Speech-Language Pathology

The Anatomage Table in the Speech-Language Pathology Department helps students to gain a better understanding of human anatomy through the virtual cadaver. This 3D virtual technology has shown to improve overall academic and professional success for Misericordia students. 

Anatomage also featured Misericordia on their blog after students presented on the table and how it impacted their academic success at the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association conference. Click here to access the blog and read the post, "Students Leverage Classroom Technology into Professional Growth."

Misericordia Speech-Language Pathology students were featured on EyeWitness News for their success with the Anatomage Table. Click here to watch the news package featuring Misericordia SLP students.

The Speech-Language Pathology department has a large selection of cutting-edge AAC devices. These devices are available for clients, students, and faculty use in the clinic and classroom. Some of the devices include:

Mighty Mo, Mini Mo, Vantage Plus, Vanguard Plus, Pathfinder Plus, Spring Board Plus, DynaVox DV5, Dynamite, Dynamo, Boardmaker, Speaking Dynamically Pro, Chatbox, Mercury, Tech Talk, Co:writer, MT4, Lightwriter, Dynawrite, Big Mac, Tango, and other equipment.

The ISCAN is a non-invasive eye tracking device that allows researchers and clinicians to track and map eye movements of children and adults. It has been used to map the eye movements of infants in normal development as well as the eye movements of those with pragmatic language issues. Students in the Misericordia SLP Department have exposure to such cutting edge technology through their participation in research with faculty.

Motion capture technology is used to track, record, and measure body movements in three dimensional space. Using this technology, any abnormal facial movement or lack of normal facial movement can be detected. This technology can also be used in therapy to give clients biofeedback concerning the movements or lack of movements of the face.

Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive measure of brain function. NIRS detects changes in blood hemoglobin concentrations that are associated with neural activity. NIRS can be used on infants, children, adolescents, and adults. We use NIRS in diagnostics and treatment to determine changes in blood concentration levels for verbal and nonverbal tasks.

The Speech-Language and Hearing Center at Misericordia University uses a novel technology (Landro Play Analyzer) (LPA) for speech and language observation and analysis. This technology is used for advanced video-capture in the clinic. Cameras in each therapy room are linked to a central server. The LPA secure server sends the video to a clinical supervisor's computer for recording and editing. Four sessions can be viewed and recorded simultaneously. The video is also sent to the student clinicians' resource room, clinical rooms, and classrooms for viewing and playback. These videos can be accessed via tablet PCs in each therapy and observation room so that students can review sessions with clients in real-time. Professors can also retrieve video from the server and display clinical sessions in the classroom. All sessions are categorized by several parameters, including, age, gender, race, disorder, therapy session, treatment technique, and other factors. Students, supervisors, and faculty can complete a video analysis in Microsoft Excel of one session or multiple sessions for a client or for numerous clients by refining a search field by any of the parameters in the database. All video can be burnt to DVD format and given to clients to demonstrate progress in therapy. The equipment in the video observation lab was funded by Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development – Keystone Innovation Starter Kit Grant and by Misericordia University's Faculty Research Grant Program.

Click here to view a PDF diagram of the video observation technologies.

Clients, students and faculty have access to a lab that has state-of-the-art equipment for research and clinical practice. Equipment includes:

Visi-Pitch IV 3950 for Voice Diagnostics, Yamaha Keyboard for Voice Treatment, Endoscopic Unit, Aerophone II - Phonatory Aerodynamic System (PAS), Electroglottograph, CSL,VES, videostroboscopy, spirometry and other equipment.