Professional Experience and Research
As a communication sciences and disorders major at Elmhurst, you will find plenty of opportunities to expand your skills and gain experience—in and out of the classroom.
Clinical Experience
You will immerse yourself in real-world practice, starting with at least 25 hours of structured observation hours as part of your practicum coursework. Once you have completed your observation hours, you will work with clients in Elmhurst’s own Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, participating in therapy, conferences with family members and clinical research.
Our dedicated Voice and Swallowing Center is equipped with a wide array of acoustic and imaging instrumentation. The Center features Pentax Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Lab, Nasometry, Kay Pentax rigid and flexible endoscopy with stroboscopy, and treatment software applications allowing for biofeedback.
Students may gain practical training in evaluation procedures for voice analysis and visualization, fiberendoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), as well as therapeutic applications and techniques using technology. The Center serves as an educational laboratory, a clinical resource for clients of the Elmhurst University Speech-Language-Hearing-Clinic (ECSLHC), and supports ongoing research programs in voice and swallowing.
The Elmhurst University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic has a fully equipped audiometric suite that is used for training undergraduate and graduate students. The suite features equipment to assess hearing acuity and functioning of the middle ear.
- Undergraduate students in the program learn to use the equipment through guided practice as part of their coursework.
- Graduate students conduct hearing screenings as part of diagnostic evaluations.
The 4,600-square-foot Elmhurst University Simulation Center at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital is a state-of-the-art learning facility. It serves graduate students and represents an innovative partnership with Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare.
Fieldwork and Research
The Chicago area provides many opportunities to observe and conduct fieldwork. Students often present research results at the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention and Elmhurst’s own Research and Performance Showcase. Students are able to complete observation hours at a variety of local schools, hospitals and private clinics.
Examples of Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Student Research
Publications
Baxa, E., Morean, D. F., & Dunckley, K. T. (2020). We are missing the neurocognitive consequences of chemotherapy-induced hearing loss in pediatric brain tumor survivors. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 101(11). doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2020.10.103
Presentations
Filkowski, Alyssa, How the current research informs us on the interplay between anxiety and stuttering in adolescents: a literature review. Presented at Elmhurst University Research Showcase. Presentation. May 4, 2023.
Marousek, Ana, Urett, Jarrett, & Young, Nya A Recap of the Recent Literature About Finding Words Post-Stroke: a literature review. Panel presentation at Elmhurst University Research Showcase, May 4, 2023.
Gorman, B. K., & Young, N. (2023, January 26). Careers in communication sciences and disorders. [Oral presentation]. Outreach Community Center, Carol Stream, IL.
Kelsey, C. & Ding, R. (2021, May 6). An evaluation of thicken liquid brands to manage dysphagia. Oral presentation. Elmhurst University Research Symposium, Elmhurst, IL.
Kelsey Clark. Creative and Scholarly Endeavors (CASE) 2021 award recipient. An evaluation of thicken liquid brands to manage dysphagia. Faculty mentor: Ruiying Ding.
Research Posters
Skiple, Allison, Generalizability of Narrative-Based Interventions for Bilingual, Elementary-aged Students. Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Brenda Gorman. Presented her research poster at the at the Elmhurst University Spring 2023 Research and Performance Showcase Program.
See also: examples of Faculty-Mentored Graduate Student Research.
Health Professions Advising
As a communication sciences and disorders major at Elmhurst, you will benefit from the expert guidance of our Health Professions Advising (HPA) program. The program brings together students from across the health care spectrum for workshops, internships, mentoring opportunities, focused advising, and assistance with the application process to graduate and professional school. In addition, HPA collaborates with the Philosophy Department to offer the medical humanities minor, which covers topics on compassionate, ethical, and culturally sensitive care of patients and clients.