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Organisatie

Spraak- en Taalonderzoek

Lab

Tijdsduur:1 okt 2021 →  Heden
Organisatieprofiel:

This research group examines congenital, developmental and neurological language/speech disorders, both from a top-down approach using neuroimaging and from a bottom-up approach studying speech and language in an interactional context. Neuroimaging measures are used for predicting language outcomes in dyslexia and aphasia and for investigating neuroplasticity during language learning. Advanced MRI methods are developed in collaboration with icometrix (Leuven-based company) and EEG methods in collaboration with the Hearing Research group within ExpORL. 

By studying interindividual interactions at micro-level, we aim to understand how multimodal communication (gaze, gesture, prosody) can facilitate language processing and speech fluency in monolingual and bilingual individuals with communication difficulties. These insights into information processing, which may differ between different clinical groups, may be applied as concrete guidelines in clinical practice or special education pedagogy. In addition, large-scale prediction studies on aphasia and dyslexia will be carried out using machine learning analyses for multi-level (brain, behaviour and environment) and multi-time (longitudinal) data. The aim is to implement these predictive and neuroplasticity models in clinical practice to guide diagnosis and intervention approaches. Further, we aim to better delineate speech, language and behavioural profiles in children carrying rare CNVs (22q11.2 duplication, 16p11.2 deletion, 1611.2 duplication) through standardized assessments and spontaneous speech.Finally, UZ Leuven is one of the main multidisciplinary centers for cleft lip and palate care in Belgium. Where past research mainly focused on genetics of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (cfr. main publications), future research in this patient group will focus on speech outcomes. The main future research goals are the development of a tool to assess cleft speech characteristics in Dutch and the  investigation of the multifactorial etiology of velopharyngeal insufficiency (relative impact of surgical technique of cleft palate closure, craniofacial morphology, hearing and genetic background).

Trefwoorden:spraak, taal, hersenontwikkeling, neuroplasticiteit, communicatie
Disciplines:Spraak-, taal- en gehoorwetenschappen