Voice Lab
The Voice Lab, located in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is equipped to study aerodynamic and acoustic properties of voice production, perceptual measures, client reported outcome measures, and visual inspection of the larynx via rigid laryngoscopy and videostroboscopy.
Dr. Elizabeth Grillo's research interests and clinical specialization involve voice production. Currently, her research agenda related to voice includes five major areas: 1) aerodynamic, acoustic, perceptual, and client reported outcome measures of voice in different populations including people with voice disorders and healthy voice users; 2) application of her Global Voice Prevention and Therapy Model (GVPTM) in a client-centered approach by training multiple new voices; 3) an ecological momentary assessment tool called VoiceEvalU8, a smartphone/tablet app, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-server, and web portal, that can be used to complete voice evaluations and monitoring of voice therapy goals in the client’s daily environment; 4) the VoicePractice app, an ecological momentary intervention tool, for daily practice of voice exercises in the client’s functional environment; 5) defining and training voice quality terms (e.g., resonant voice, stretch and flow, confidential voice, etc.) by the anatomy and physiology of the voice production system (i.e., Estill Voice Model); and 6) functional assessment and therapy methods that address all the client’s vocal needs supported by telepractice, the GVPTM, VoiceEvalU8, VoicePractice, and the Estill Voice Model.
Dr. Grillo’s work has been supported by two National Institutes of Health grants from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 1) R15DC014566 Effectiveness of Telepractice by Smartphone App Technology in Preventing Voice Problems and 2) R15DC019954 Improving Efficacy of Voice Therapy Concepts via Telepractice and Mobile App Technology.
Dr. Grillo welcomes the opportunity for collaboration. Student participation is highly valued to promote the importance of research in future generations of speech-language pathologists. The work completed in the voice lab is only possible with student interest and involvement. Please contact Dr. Elizabeth Grillo at egrillo@wcupa.edu.
