University of Arkansas graduate students in the communication disorders program took what they are learning in courses on medical and educational speech pathology, conducted research projects and described their findings Nov. 23 at a conference-style poster session.

The students in the master's program in the College of Education and Health Professions presented their research to faculty and fellow students at the University of Arkansas Speech and Hearing Clinic.

The research projects focused on evidence-based practice in the areas of medical and educational speech pathology. They were required in classes taught this semester by Pradyumn Srivastava, assistant professor, and Mary Ann Toner, associate professor. The Speech and Hearing Clinic is located in the Epley Center for Health Professions on the northwest edge of campus. Students gain clinical experience in the on-campus clinic under the supervision of faculty and staff as well as at professional practice sites throughout Northwest Arkansas.

For the research presentations, students created trifold posters with their findings, which they explained to their peers and faculty who viewed the posters. Some of the topics included group music therapy in Parkinson's disease, prevention of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) following head and neck radiation during cancer treatment, assessing adults with neurological communication disorders via telepractice, and increasing social skills in young children with autism.

Additional pictures can be viewed on the college's Facebook page.

After the poster session, the graduate students heard from a member of the Arkansas Board of Examiners Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Elizabeth Williams, a speech-language pathologist in the Fayetteville School District, talked to the students about how to obtain a license to practice as speech-language pathologists in Arkansas.

Williams gave the students copies of the law requiring licensure and application materials they would need. The law requires them to submit an application for a license within 30 days of starting a job as a speech-language pathologist.

She also advised the students to keep detailed records of courses they take and conferences they attend to qualify for continuing professional education. Speech-language pathologists are required to complete 10 hours of continuing professional education annually.

Williams described state and national professional associations that may be beneficial to the students in their practice. Lisa Bowers, assistant professor of communication disorders, explained that the American Speech-Language Hearing Association advocates for practitioners and helps to keep professional standards high.