5 Research Topics for a Speech-Language Pathology Program

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke each year, and another 90,000 are diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

These are just two conditions that could cause acquired language disorders, but they impact the lives of millions of people around the world. By researching acquired language disorders, you may be able to help people manage the condition. It can also prove fruitful if, after college, you eventually aim to practice with clients living with the disorder.

According to some surveys, about a quarter of adults in the U.S. don’t speak a second language, but wish they did.

With that in mind, researching how adults can learn second or third languages could be incredibly valuable for people across the country. As apps like Duolingo rise in popularity, there is still plenty of room to examine the effectiveness of such programs and how adults can supplement their learnings.

Learning a second language can also help your career; understanding how to help people learn a new language could result in additional job opportunities, such as interpreting and translating.

Over 2 million people who cannot verbally communicate — either some or all of the time, use an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to speak.

Still, as much as people use these devices, there are limitations. AACs are pivotal in allowing people with verbal disabilities to communicate. Speech pathologists can work to make these devices more effective through research. Improvements in the technology, or in how we understand the limitations of AACs, could provide quality of life improvements for people who rely on the device.

Cleft lip and cleft palate can hinder speech development in children, and in the U.S. about one in every 1,600 babies is born with both.

Speech pathologists and speech therapists are often tasked with working with these children to overcome the obstacles their cleft palate may present. By researching this issue, you may be able to uncover best practices and share your findings to help speech therapists. In turn, they can better do their jobs in treating these children.

When someone experiences hearing loss, this can negatively affect their speech. Whether someone is born deaf or develops deafness later in life, researching the effects of hearing on someone’s ability to speak can provide valuable insight into the condition.

If there are ways that people can limit the impact of hearing loss on their speech, research may uncover best practices. Research may also include looking into how therapy and other techniques can improve someone’s speech.