The Centre for Language and Communication Science Research carries out research into all aspects of speech, language and communication difficulties, as well as typical speech and language.
Key themes include:
- The nature and long-term consequences of acquired and developmental conditions.
- Assessment and therapy both for developmental and acquired conditions.
Specific areas of strength include aphasia, cognitive communication disorders, voice and laryngectomy, developmental language disorder, autism, intellectual disability and deafness.
The Centre’s research is renowned for its combination of innovation, scientific excellence and clinical relevance. Our Centre is interdisciplinary by nature, including speech and language therapists, psychologists, linguists, phoneticians, audiologists, and human computer interaction experts.
Our research has influenced clinical, professional and educational practices both in the UK and overseas and led to new clinical tools (e.g. for the early identification of developmental language and social communication conditions, for the assessment of quality of life and self-report outcomes in adults with aphasia), new clinical interventions (e.g. to improve communication, discourse/narrative, working memory, reading and writing, and well-being) and new professional guidance (e.g. for vulnerable witnesses).
The Centre has an on-site speech and language therapy clinic (The Roberta Williams Centre) and active collaborations with academic and clinical partners in the UK and internationally.
The Centre includes about 30 members of academic and research staff and around 20 doctoral students and post-doctoral research fellows from the Department of Language and Communication Science.
We also have affiliated members from across the School of Health and Psychological Sciences and the University’s Human Computer Interaction Design Centre.
The Centre is organised into two active research groups:
- Adult Assessment and Intervention Research (AAIR)
- Developmental Assessment and Intervention Research (DAIR).
We also have a Speech, Language and Hearing Lab which facilitates research in the areas of typical and atypical speech, language and hearing; and provides technical and methodological support and expertise to the research groups.
Language and Communication Science Research website
Visit the Centre’s research microsite for more information about the Centre, including areas of research, projects and related activities.
Case studies
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Making quality of life part of the aphasia discussion
Research case study
Creating tools and technologies for boosting quality of life for people with aphasia.
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Giving vulnerable children a voice in the criminal justice system
Research case study
Research into how registered intermediaries (RIs) support vulnerable child witnesses in the criminal justice system and help them share useful evidence with police.
