The staff of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) carries out research regarding language, speech, communication and swallowing in all ages. The academic staff of the department collaborates with other Cypriot universities as well as, foreign ones in order to promote the exchange of knowledge and carry out high quality research to support the people who have communication disorders in a worldwide level.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Labs
Research Labs
The Brain and Neurorehabilitation Lab
Aphasia and Psycholinguistics Lab
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
EPI.LO.G.ο
EPI.LO.G.ο
EPI.LO.G.o laboratory was established by Dr. Elena Theodorou, Lecturer of Speechpathology, to cover research, educational and clinical needs in the areas of Language and Communication Disorders in Childhood. The lab is funded by the Cyprus University of Technology (Start-up Funding Lecturer Elena Theodorou) and it is located in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, ZT3 building, 15 Vragadinou Street, 3041, Limassol.
The lab is equipped with workstations where researchers and their collaborators can store and analyze research data. It is equipped, among other things, with Diagnostic Language Tools, tablets for developing communication boards, applications involving the use of symbols for linguistic development, etc.
In short, laboratory’s activity is related to a) the mapping of the language skills of children with developmental language disorders (primary and secondary), b) the accurate identification and reliable assessment of language difficulties in childhood, and c) the utilization of research data for targeted Evidence Based Practice. It also deals with (d) the investigation of Alternative and Augmentative Communication provided to people with limited or non-existent verbal communication; and (e) how language programs of symbols and concepts (e.g. MAKATON) can be used effectively in speech therapy at both the level of assessment and planning of the intervention. In addition, it deals with the investigation of the treatment of children with serious communication difficulties, namely with programs using gestures, meanings and symbols that can contribute to the development of communication skills as well as to the development of speech.
Laboratory supervisor
Dr. Elena Theodorou
Lecturer in Speechpathology
Cyprus University of Technology
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
AACTLab
AACTLab
Laboratory of Augmentative/ Alternative Communication and AssistiveTechnology
AACTLab
The AACTLab is the first laboratory established in Cyprus specialising in Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology in the field of speech and language therapy. The AACTLab was created in 2019 by the Lecturer Eliada Pampoulou, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), Limassol, from her starting grant provided by the university.
The vision of AACTLab is to support people with severe complex communication issues in expressing their needs, thoughts and ideas, in comprehending linguistic information, participating in decision making (ex. medical assistance), whilst eventually developing and maintaining social relations. The laboratory aims to cover the various research and clinical needs in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
The AACTLab has the aim of ensuring the provision of high quality services to people with complex communication disorders, through the following main activities:
conducting of local and international research
development and modification of existing evaluation tools
development of technological systems to be used for communication purposes
training of university students, caregivers (e.g. relatives) and health professionals (e.g. speech and language therapists and nurses)
creation of discussion groups focusing on topics relating to the support of people with acquired and complex communication disorders (please contact us if you would like to start one)
collaboration with different bodies (e.g. academia and industry) from Cyprus and abroad
The AACTLab is fully equipped with up to date low and high technology systems, such as printed communication books, talking products, eye gaze systems, switches, among others. Below you can see some pictures of the laboratory´s equipment and some of the activities that it will focus on, such as the training of university students in the use of assistive technology.
The laboratory is located at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Cyprus University of Technology, ZT3 building, 15 Vragadinou Street, Limassol, Cyprus.
https://goo.gl/maps/9CogTsZGowM2
Laboratory Director
Dr. Eliada Pampoulou
Lecturer of Speech and Language Pathology
Cyprus University of Technology
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
The Brain and Neurorehabilitation Lab
The Brain and Neurorehabilitation Lab
The Brain and Neurorehabilitation Lab
The Brain & Neurorehabilitation Lab at the University Rehabilitation Clinic of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences has three goals: Research, Patient Care, and Education. The lab provides the research staff with access to cutting-edge noninvasive brain stimulation technology and employs different neural stimulation techniques (i.e. rTMS and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) for exploring the relationship between brain and behaviour, questions about brain plasticity and its modulation that is combined with careful experimental task designs and brain imaging in healthy populations and patients with neurological disoders.
The lab is equipped with a Magstim Super Rapid2 magnetic stimulation unit that is capable of both single pulse and rapid rate stimulation output at high power. The combination of the Super Rapid2 and Air Film Coils allows the application of high frequency rTMS for long durations suitable for therapeutic applications. The addition of the therapy chair enables a complete solution, maintaining comfort for the patients whilst stimulation is being delivered.
The ANT-NEURO Visor2 LT image-guided frameless stereotactic system is used for accurate real-time visualization of stimulated brain areas (www.ant-neuro.com). This system allows guidance for placement of the TMS coil on the participant’s head from the 3-D reconstructed brain MRI (either anatomical of functional images can be used for guidance). The position of the participant’s head and the TMS coil are detected by the infrared camera and merged onto the patient’s MRI. The computer displays, online, the brain target that would be primarily affected by the projection of the main vector of the induced magnetic field pulse assuming that the magnetic field flows perpendicular to the plane of the coil and the affected brain area is, in turn, perpendicular to the magnetic field (hence parallel to the coil plane).
The lab is also equipped with multiple stimulation coils that including various sizes of 8-shaped coils for focal stimulation and circular coils, as well as specially designed double-cone coils for deeper brain stimulation, and various air-cooled coils. In addition, specially designed sham coils matching the various real coils are available.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Aphasia and Psycholinguistics Lab
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
CIRCLE
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Programmes
Research Programmes
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
International Programmes
International Programmes
International Survey on the Diagnostics of autism spectrum disorders
Coordinator: Kakia Petinou
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental impairment that affects children and families around the globe. To better understand the role of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in differing countries in supporting children with ASD and their families, the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP) Child Language Committee developed a survey for SLPs who were currently working with children or adolescents with ASD. The survey, developed online using Qualtrics, comprised 58 questions relating to background information of SLP, characteristics of children with ASD and the role of SLPs in diagnosis, assessment and intervention practices for children with ASD. Questions were designed with either multiple choice responses or short answers. The English version of the survey was translated into French, Russian, and Portuguese and distributed on-line through speech language pathology associations of IALP. The responders were 1114 SLPs (representing 35 countries) who completed the survey. Most of the respondents (91%) were experienced in working with children with ASD with only 9 % who had recently begun to work with children with ASD. The majority of the SLPs who responded (75%) worked in schools or early childhood settings. The finding that SLPs reported the typical age of diagnosis of ASD was 3 to 4 years of age across most countries differs to other reports that suggest many children with ASD are not diagnosed until around 5 years of age. Additionally, the majority of SLPs participate in the diagnosis as part of a professional team.
Duration: 2015-2017
Website: IALP
Funding: Intenrations association of phonetixa dn locgopsi - 20000 €
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
European Programmes
European Programmes
Cost Action ISO804 Language Impairment in a Multilingual Society: Linguistic Patterns and the Road to Assessment
Coordinator: undefined44
Duration:
Website:
Funding:
National Institutes of Health Research Creating an international, multidisciplinary, aphasia dataset of individual patient data (IPD) for the REhabilitation and recovery of peopLE with Aphasia after StrokE (RELEASE) project
Coordinator: Maria Kambanaros
Introduction: Aphasia affects a third of stroke survivors (~5.6 million worldwide annually). The social and emotional impact of aphasia makes timely and effective rehabilitation vital. Speech and language therapy benefits recovery; however the specific patient, stroke, aphasia and intervention factors which optimize recovery and rehabilitation are unclear. We will explore these uncertainties in our RELEASE study (NIHR HS&DR 14/04/22). In Phase I of this study we aimed to create a large, collaborative, international database of IPD from pre-existing aphasia research. Method: Eligible datasets included IPD of ≥10 people with stroke-related aphasia, with time post-stroke specified and aphasia severity data. Contributions were invited from international, multidisciplinary, aphasia research collaborators via the EU COST funded Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists. We also conducted a systematic search of the literature [Cochrane Stroke Group Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Cochrane Library Databases (CDSR, DARE, CENTRAL, HTA), EMBASE, LLBA and SpeechBITE from inception to Sept 2015 for additional datasets. Two independent reviewers considered full texts with a third resolving any conflicts. Results: As of June 2016 our database included 2,531 IPD from 11 countries (33 datasets). Nine were in the public domain. Following the systematic search of 5,272 records (of which 75 duplicates, 2,395 reference titles and 965 abstracts were excluded) further datasets were identified and invited to collaborate. Conclusion: We succeeded in creating a large, collaborative, international aphasia database of pre-existing IPD. A systematic search process to identify additional datasets eligible for inclusion supplemented more informal dataset recruitment methods.
Duration: 2 years
Funding: National Institutes of Health Research
I-PRAISE Development of a core outcome set for use in an international, observational post-stroke aphasia study (International Practice-Based Rehabilitation approaches to AphasIa after StrokE [I-PRAISE])
Coordinator: Maria Kambanaros
Background: Aphasia research has often remained region and discipline-specific, employing a range of outcome measurements to assess effectiveness of interventions. We sought to develop a core outcome set (COS) for use across a planned, prospective, observational, open, mixed methods, blinded endpoint study (I-PRAISE).
Methods: We developed an I-PRAISE team comprising representatives from each participating nation who would act as principal investigators (PIs) for their respective countries. We conducted a survey of PIs and a sample of potential participating sites (n=35) across the UK, Germany, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, Australia, Israel and Italy to determine the familiarity, feasibility and acceptability of use of common outcome measures for post-stroke aphasia assessment in their respective settings. We defined our key domains for assessment according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF); ease of adaptation, translation, and availability of routinely collected data were also considered. We assessed the psychometric properties of potentially eligible assessment tools in an iterative manner until a COS could be agreed within the group. We developed a case report form (CFR) based on data essential for analyses of key research questions, and circulated this CRF for review amongst the I-PARISE team and potential participating sites.
Results: Our primary outcome measure was functional communication, assessed using the Amsterdam Nijmegen Everyday Language Test (ANELT)/ Scenario test (in case of floor effects on the ANELT during baseline assessment) and Therapy Outcome Measure (TOMS) at 12 months post-stroke. Secondary outcomes include: language deficits using the Aphasia Severity Rating Scale (ASRS)/Revised Western Aphasia Battery (WAB-R) at 6 and 12 months post-stroke; Societal participation using the Subjective Index of Physical and Social Outcome (SIPSO) at 6 and 12 months post-stroke and depression using the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQ) at 6 and 12 months post-stroke.
Conclusion: This COS will be implemented across 14 countries in I-PRAISE, with data collection planned to commence in Jan 2019.
Duration:
Website:
Funding: As yet unfunded
COST Action IS1208 Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs)
Coordinator: Maria Kambanaros
Post-stroke Aphasia affects the understanding and/or expression of spoken and written language, leading the patients to an altered social interaction and social isolation. Furthermore, aphasia contributes to poorer functional recovery, mobility, discharge destination and return to employment. Beyond that, aphasia research typically remains language, region and discipline specific limiting the efficiency, strength and broader relevance of any research. This Action aimed to establish a network of leading European multidisciplinary aphasia investigators in rehabilitation, social science, linguistics and language research, so as to enhance knowledge, skills and methodology relating to aphasia research. Consensus activities facilitated international synergy between members in aphasia assessment & diagnosis. Data sharing activities supported enhanced prognosis and rehabilitation of aphasia. Overall, this Action fostered and coordinated the development of high quality aphasia research activity which addresses the needs of people with aphasia and their families, health and social care providers and voluntary groups.
Duration:
Website:
Funding: COST Action
COST Action IS1406 Enhancing children’s oral language skills across Europe and beyond – a collaboration focusing on interventions for children with difficulties learning their first language.
Coordinator: Kakia Petinou, Maria Kambanaros, Eleni Theodorou
Oral language (speaking and understanding) is critical to children's development, affecting the emergence of personal, social and academic skills throughout school and into the workplace. Most children acquire such skills effortlessly but a sizeable proportion, those with Language Impairment (LI), do not. LI affects 5.8 million children and young people (0-18 years) across Europe. There is evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of intervention to improve the language skills of these children but this information is not well disseminated and services are inconsistent across Europe. This Action will enhance the science in the field, improve the effectiveness of services for children with LI and develop a sustainable network of researchers well placed to answer the key questions in this area.
Duration: 2015 – Present
Website: http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/isch/IS1406
Funding: COST Action - 1,2000,000 €
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
National Programmes
National Programmes
Language and Communication Disorders in Childhood: Issues in Diagnosis and Therapeutic Intervention
Coordinator: Eleni Theodorou
Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) describes a condition where a typically developing child fails to achieve the speech and language milestones that are expected for his/her chronological age. Children with DLD form a non-homogenous group by demonstrating variable deficits in different components of grammar (syntax, morphology, phonology) as well as in vocabulary and lexicon in the absence of other factors that typically accompany language problems (such as hearing impairment, low non-verbal IQ, neurological damage, or socio-emotional deprivation). Dr Elena Theodorou has been Funding from the University (40,000 Euro Start up Fund) to carry out research in the areas of Diagnosis and Intervention for children with language and communication impairment. Fisrtly, research’s goal is to capture language abilities/characteristics of Cypriot Greek children both typically developing and impaired (DLD, autism spectrum disorder [ASD], Down syndrome, stuttering) effectively, using an experimental battery of language tests. Then, norms will be developed for the language tools capable of diagnosing language impaired children correctly. The ultimate goal of the research is to provide clinicians with valid and effective tools for assessment purposes.
Call: Internal funding from the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2017 - 2018
Website:
Funding: Internal funding from the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
Early language development and language retardation surveys
Coordinator: Kakia Petinou
Predictive factors concerning the language development of late talkers: The current research project focuses on the way that late talkers develop their vocabulary based on the measurement and analysis of word variation. This is noted in special lists that are completed by parents (parentally reported vocabulary checklist).
Development of speech and language assessment battery: The current investigation focuses on the creation, piloting and standardization of the first speech and language assessment battery in Cyprus. The project is being funded by the Cyprus Association of Registered Speech and Language Therapists, the Cyprus council of registration of Speech and Language Therapists and standard funding by the Cyprus University of Technology.
Developmental phonology: This research project focuses on the investigation of developmental phonological patterns of toddlers with typical language development, with an emphasis on the development of phonological processes in early speech. The purpose is to develop a screening tool that will provide the means for assessing the whole phonetic repertoire of Cypriot Greek, such that the targeted intervention is provided on the basis of the phonetic-phonological profile of the toddler. This research project also includes toddlers with a late onset of expressive vocabulary, with the aim being to identify the phonological processes that characterise these toddlers as opposed to typically developing ones.
Phonological, semantic and syntactic correlations: The current investigation focuses on the correlation among language sub-domains. Through correlation studies the research project involves investigating the relation that exists between phonological skills along with semantic and syntactic development in the third year of life. We are interested in how these three language skills interact with each other synchronically, i.e. within the same age, as well as how performance at one age level can predict performance in the same or other skills at a subsequently stage (for example between 28 and 36 months).
Semantic Profiling:In this research project, the focus is on the investigation of the average of number of words that are comprehended and produced at different ages as well as the types of words based on the developmental stage of the participants. The overall aim is the development of a semantic profiling of children of different ages, which will provide significant information regarding not only the quantity but also the quality of that produced.
Vocabulary assessment and intervention in the field of augmentative and alternative communication. The current research project is aimed at contributing to both the literature and practice by focusing on the assessment and intervention of receptive vocabulary skills of pupils with cerebral palsy. The participants will be students with cerebral palsy aged 3-6 years old, their parents, as well as the educational staff (including speech and language therapists) who support them.
Risk Factors for Voice Disorders in University Professors in Cyprus: The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors for voice pathologies in professors with voice disorders (VD) versus professors with no voice disorders (NVD). A web questionnaire was completed by 196 professors from several universities in Cyprus. The questionnaire elicited data regarding voice risk factors on parameters including general health, voice use, lifestyle and environment and the severity of a subject’s voice problem.
Duration: 2014 - Present
Website: http://theralab.cut.ac.cy/?lang=el
Funding: Cyprus University of Technology - 40 000 €