Research
There are a variety of ways to conduct and consume research within the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program. Learn more about our labs and a sampling of thesis projects by our students over recent years.
Child Language Lab
In the Child Language Lab at Butler University we study language development in monolingual and bilingual preschool-aged children. The purpose of our research is to contribute to our understanding of the language learning difficulties of some children, and help improve the ways in which we provide intervention for these children. We see children in our lab on campus in Jordan Hall as well as at local schools and daycares. Butler undergraduate students have the opportunity to learn hands-on about a variety of aspects of the research process in our lab.
Our most recent studies investigate word learning in children with language disorders.
Music, Speech, and Language Lab
The Music, Speech, and Language Lab explores the development of music and spoken language in children and adults. We are focused on three main areas:
- Interactions between caregivers and children with and without hearing loss
- Audiovisual contributions to perception of spoken language
- Effects of music listening on language and cognition skills in adults with dementia
Undergraduate students can participate in these projects in many ways, ranging from volunteering in the lab to completing an Honors Thesis.
Contact tbergeso@butler.edu to learn more!
Pediatric Feeding Lab
The Pediatric Feeding Lab investigates the development of feeding and swallowing skills in infants and young children. The focus of our work is examining feeding in context: relative to environment, experience, and cross-system development.
Undergraduate students can participate in feeding projects in many ways, ranging from volunteering in the lab to completing an Honors Thesis.
Contact rehahn@butler.edu to learn more!
Examples of Recent Thesis Projects
2023-2024
Abigail Dame, undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
Effects of Music of Sustained Attention in Children Who Stutter
Sarah Mahnesmith, undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
Media Mayhem: Effects of Electronic Media and Hearing Loss on Language Development
Luke Meyer, undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
Musical Syntactic Achievements in Patients with Non-fluent Aphasia
Hope Horsfall (health sciences major), undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
The Development of Misophonia from Onset to College Age
2022-2023
Lexi Schell, undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
Aphasia-friendly Reading Comprehension Training to Enhance Nutritional Literacy
Hannah Schafer, undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
Effects of facemasks and virtual lecture environments on speech recall
Samantha McDonald, undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
A Comparative Look at How Professionals Perceive Social Communication Intervention for School-aged Children
Kaylin Todor (biochemistry major), undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
The Effects of Multisensory Music Experience on Sundowning Symptoms in Adults Diagnosed with Dementia
2021-2022
Kate DesBiens, undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
The influence of improv experience on uncertainty tolerance, social anxiety, and communication in adolescents on the autism spectrum
Celia Gaynor (2nd major in Strategic Communication), undergraduate honors thesis, Butler University
Kicking the way through a global pandemic: How NCAA Division I soccer players and institutions have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and related protocols