Introduction

The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences has a strong commitment to research. All staff have extensive research experience, and have a wide range of research interests and research collaborations (national and international). Within the Department, research is also actively integrated into teaching and practice education (including research modules to the undergraduate and postgraduate students within the School), which facilitates a heightened awareness of the importance of research to professional practice, evidence-based practice and implementation principles. There are also firmly established partnerships between the academic and clinical communities which are crucial for the development, appraisal and implementation of research. Research funding from a variety of internal and external sources and funding bodies have facilitated the realization of a clear research vision for the Department, which is to carry out state-of-the-art, pioneering research into speech and language processes.