SUMMARY
Heather M. Clark, Ph.D., studies speech, language and swallowing disorders in patients with progressive neurological diseases such as primary progressive aphasia (PPA), primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Focus areas
- Oral and written language comprehension and expression in PPA
- Perceptual speech features of PPAOS and PSP
- Swallowing impairments in PPAOS
- Measures for quantifying severity of apraxia of speech
- Tongue strength and oral apraxia in PPAOS and PSP
Dr. Clark collaborates with Mayo Clinic researchers Keith A. Josephs, M.D., Jennifer Whitwell, Ph.D., Rene L. Utianski, Ph.D., and Joseph R. Duffy, Ph.D.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Clark's research contributes to accurate and relevant assessment of communication and swallowing disorders accompanying neurodegenerative conditions by describing the clinical characteristics that best inform medical diagnosis and recommendations for management and developing tools and procedures that clinicians can use to identify and treat these impairments.
Professional highlights
- Fellowship of the Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2018
- Recipient, Richard H. Barrett Award for research in orofacial myology, International Association of Orofacial Myology, 2012
- Recipient, Editor's Award, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2004