A Hunter researcher has received an Outdrive Aphasia PPA grant from the National Aphasia Association to study ways to mitigate primary progressive aphasia, a kind of dementia that affects the ability to speak, comprehend, read, and write.
Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Amy Vogel-Eyny is a primary investigator on the project, which examines whether combining an intensive language treatment with computer-based home training can maximize word retention for individuals with the condition.
“We believe this approach could lead to more targeted and personalized therapies for individuals experiencing progressive forms of aphasia,” Vogel-Eyny said.
As a clinician researcher, Vogel-Eyny focuses on lexical retrieval in elderly adults, post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation, and primary progressive aphasia with the aim of combining evidence-based treatments with transcranial direct-current brain stimulation, a non-invasive technique.
The co-primary investigator on the project is Queens College Assistant Professor Mara Steinberg Lowe.
The Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, part of the School of Health Professions, prepares students for professional practice in hospitals, healthcare agencies, general and specialized clinical settings, and private practices.