PRC Seminar with Jimin Lee

Dr. Lee will explore why individuals with dysarthria, a motor speech disorder, often have difficulty being understood when they speak. Drawing on research in speech physiology and acoustics, the talk will focus on individuals with dysarthria due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Down syndrome.

The presentation will highlight how:

• physiological and acoustical factors impact speech intelligibility,
• the Speech Chain, a loop of speaking and listening, can support improved communication for individuals with ALS, and
• common phenotypic characteristics in individuals with Down syndrome contribute to similar speech challenges.

About the Speaker​

Dr. Jimin Lee’s research examines and expands the foundational science of speech production, with a focus on developing effective clinical applications for individuals with dysarthria. Her work explores the intricate relationships among articulatory kinematics, speech acoustics, and speech intelligibility, aiming to identify comprehensive production variables that predict communicative success.

Dr. Lee is particularly interested in enhancing speech production in individuals with dysarthria resulting from neurological conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and cerebral palsy. Her research also addresses the broader communication needs of individuals with dysarthria and their communication partners, with the goal of improving interaction, participation, and quality of life.