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Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research

About the Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research

Situated within Cardiff Metropolitan University’s School of Sport and Health Sciences, the Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research (CSHCR) focuses on three areas of expertise; clinical speech and language therapy research; healthy and impaired hearing; and bilingual and multilingual development. The Centre works with NHS health boards, funding bodies and clinical networks to deliver research collaborations with national and international institutions, notably in Europe, the USA, China, Japan and Australia.

Working in partnership with the Bristol Speech and Language Therapy Research Unit, the Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research boasts state-of-the-art laboratory facilities with specialised equipment for phonetics and audiology research. It also runs its own speech research clinic through which participant recruitment for many studies is facilitated, and has strong links with the University’s Allied Clinical Health Hub as well as undergraduate and taught Master’s programmes in speech and language therapy and audiology.

Research Areas

The Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research strives to become a centre of research excellence in the fields of:

  • Lifelong communication disorders
  • Middle ear disorders and tinnitus interventions
  • Phonetic and phonological aspects of first and second language acquisition, first language attrition and atypical development
  • Speech and language development and use in minority languages, in particular Welsh, and its clinical and educational implications
  • Public and patient involvement and engagement of individuals with communication needs in research

The CSHCR has received substantial funding from major funding bodies, such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, Welsh Government, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Discover the Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research’s team by visiting their academics profiles on Pure Research Explorer: Centre for Speech, Hearing, & Communications — Cardiff Metropolitan University Research Explorer

Published research papers can be found on the Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research’s Pure Research Explorer Page: Centre for Speech, Hearing, & Communications – Research Output — Cardiff Metropolitan University Research Explorer

Who is the clinic for?

Children aged 3+ and adults* who are presenting with complex and/or persistent Speech Sound Disorder that has been resistant to intervention. Please see our referral criteria for further details.

What does the clinic provide?

  • Second opinions by a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist with regards to differential diagnosis and therapy recommendations. Assessment may include the use of instrumental assessment tools such as Ultrasound Imaging as appropriate.
  • Summary report and in-depth Therapy Management Plan, containing evidence-based recommendations in line with RCSLT guidance, mapped to the individual's differential diagnosis.
  • Guidance and training (as appropriate) for Local Speech and Language Therapists to support them to deliver the Therapy Management Plan
  • Opportunity to give consent for assessment data to be used for research relating to individuals with complex and/or persistent Speech Sound Disorder

How to refer?

Email completed referral form and supporting documents to thespecialistspeechclinic@cardiffmet.ac.uk

* Please note we are unable to accept referrals for Acquired Motor Speech Disorders in adults e.g. following stroke or progressive neurological conditions.

Get in touch

For further information about our research, please contact us.

For general queries about CSHCR and our research on Bilingual Development:

Dr Robert Mayr (Head of Centre and lead on Bilingual Development): rmayr@cardiffmet.ac.uk

For queries on our Clinical Speech and Language Research:

Prof Yvonne Wren (Deputy Head of Centre and lead for Clinical Speech and Language Research): ywren@cardiffmet.ac.uk

For queries on our research on Healthy and Impaired Hearing:

Prof Fei Zhao (Lead for Healthy and Impaired Hearing): fzhao@cardiffmet.ac.uk

 

Stay updated on the latest Centre developments by following the CSHCR on