Dr Nicholas Behn

Overview

Nicholas is a Speech and Language Therapist who graduated from The University of Sydney, Australia in 1999 with a BAppSc in Speech Pathology. He worked as a Speech and Language Therapist both in Australia and UK with a keen interest in working with people with neurological conditions particularly, traumatic brain injury (TBI). He completed a research masters degree focused on the effectiveness of communication partner training for paid carers of people with TBI. His PhD focused on investigating the effect of project-based treatment for improving communication skills and quality of life in people with acquired brain injury (ABI). His research interests lie in understanding the nature of communication problems following a brain injury, approaches to the remediation of these problems and how to measure changes in communicative ability and quality of life post-treatment. He also has interest in defining complex behavioural treatments, proving fidelity of treatments and goal-setting including, the use of accessible technology and videotaping in the goal-setting process.

Nicholas lectures on brain injury, been involved in policy development through the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and has given regular talks to practicing therapists on the assessment and management of people with brain injury. He is a research affiliate of both the Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia (CCRE) and Centre of Research Excellence in Brain Recovery (CRE) and is the UK student ambassador to the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI).

Qualifications

1. PhD, City, University of London, UK, Jan 2013 – Jan 2016
2. MAppSc (Communication Science and Disorders), The University of Sydney, Australia, Jan 2007 – Jan 2012
3. BAppSc (Speech Pathology), The University of Sydney, Australia, Jan 1996 – Jan 1999

Employment

1. Lecturer, City, University of London, Oct 2019 – present
2. Trial Manager, City, University of London, Jun 2016 – May 2020
3. Guest Lecturer, City, University of London, Jan 2013 – Sep 2019
4. Speech and Language Therapist, Independent practice, 2011 – present
5. Guest Lecturer, University of Essex, 2009 – 2021
6. Speech and Language Therapist, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, 2006 – 2010
7. Locum Speech and Language Therapist, The Royal Hospital of Neuro-Disability London, Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge and Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Service Surrey, 2003 – 2005
8. Speech and Language Therapist, Liverpool Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, 2001 – 2003

Memberships of professional organisations

1. Registered Speech and Language Therapist, Health Professions Council, UK, 2015 – 2017
2. Certified member, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
3. Member, Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI)
4. Member, World Federation of NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR)
5. Member, WFNR Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Special Interest Group (NR-SIG-WFNR)
6. UK Student ambassador, Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI)
7. Research Affiliate, Centre of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) of Aphasia Rehabilitation, Australia
8. Research Affiliate, Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) for Brain Recovery, Australia

Teaching

Modules taught

MSc Cognition and communication impairments module (HCM003)
Professional studies module (SL1006)
Brain and behaviour module (SL3001)
Communication, cognition and disability module (SL3003/ SLM009)

External teaching

MSc Traumatic brain injury - assessment and management

Research Overview

Nicholas' core research interests relate to communication problems following acquired brain injury (ABI) and approaches to their remediation. Previously, Nicholas has been involved in evaluating the effectiveness of TBIExpress, a treatment manual created in Australia to help improve the communication skills of people with ABI and their communication partners. More recently, he has become more interested in examining treatment approaches for improving communication skills and quality of life in people with ABI. These approaches have often led to cross-discipline collaborations with Occupational Therapy and Psychology.

Research Areas

Acquired brain injury
Cognitive-communication disorders
Communication partner training
Project-based treatment
Quality of life

Collaborators

Dr Madeline Cruice
Prof Jane Marshall
Prof Leanne Togher
Dr Emma Power
Dr Rob Heard

Grants

2015-2016 Behn, N. School of Health Sciences PhD Progress Award City University London, London UK, £9,750.

2015 Behn, N. School of Health Sciences City University London travel grant, London UK, £1,000.

2015 Behn, N. Moving Ahead NH&MRC Centre for Research Excellence Small Seed Grant. Sydney, Australia. http://www.moving-ahead.com.au, £1,000.

2012-2015 Behn, N. PhD Scholarship for City University London from The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, London UK, £59,500.

2012 Behn, N. British Aphasiology Society Conference Grant, UK, £250.

2011 Behn, N. Postgraduate research funding grant for MAppSc Research. The University of Sydney, Australia, £900.

2009-2010 Behn, N. Faculty funding grants for MAppSc Research. The University of Sydney, Australia, £1,500.

2008 Behn, N. AAC Technology from the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK, £2,500.

2002-2003 Behn, N., & Moorhouse, K. AAC Technology for Liverpool Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit from the Motor Accidents Authority, NSW, Australia, £7,500.

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