Postgraduate Profile

Mrs Val Adams

PhD Candidate, School of Humanities & Social Science

Discipline: Speech Pathology
Email:  val.adams@uon.edu.au
Location:  Behavioural Sciences Building, Room W215
Campus:  Callaghan Campus, Newcastle

Current Research

PhD Thesis title: Evaluating the effects of tongue strength exercises in people with swallowing difficulties

Supervisors: Professor Robin Callister, A/Prof Bernice Mathisen, Dr Surinder Baines and A/Prof Cathy Lazarus

The overall aim of this research topic is to evaluate the effects of tongue strength exercises in people with swallowing difficulties following stroke and head and neck cancer. This innovative Australian research will contribute to the knowledge base on aging; and the loss of muscle mass and strength with particular relevance to the tongue. The use of tongue strengthening exercises has been shown to improve tongue strength in normal individuals however there are few studies that address the issue of an optimal exercise program for people following a stroke or head and neck cancer. The innovation of this study is that it will randomise participants into one of three different exercise programs with the aim being to determine which exercise program provides the most improvement in tongue strength for people following a stroke or head and neck cancer. Additionally, the study aims to measure and compare the tongue strength and pressure measurements after the completion of the tongue strengthening exercise program.

Qualifications

  • 2009 PhD Candidate, The University of Newcastle
  • 2008 BSPath (Honours), The University of Newcastle

Awards

  • 2011 Finalist in 3 Minute Thesis, School of Humanities & Social Science, The University of Newcastle
  • 2010 Best Research Poster at Mid-Candidature Stage at the Faculty of Education and Arts Student Research Festival, The University of Newcastle
  • 2010 Speech Pathology Australia Postgraduate Award

Employment History

  • Tutor SPTH3120 Speech Pathology in Medical Settings II

Research Interests

  • Adult swallowing disorders after stroke

Conference Proceedings

Adams, V., Mathisen, B., Callister, R., Baines, S., & Lazarus, C. (2011, September). Determining the optimal duration and intensity of tongue strengthening exercise in older adults with dysphagia. Poster to be presented at the 1st Congress of the European Society of Swallowing Disorders, Leiden, The Netherlands 

Adams, V., Mathisen, B., Callister, R., Baines, S., & Lazarus, C. (2011, June). Evaluation of the effects of tongue-strengthening exercises in people with swallowing difficulties. Poster presented at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, Darwin, Australia 

Adams, V., Mathisen, B., Callister, R., Baines, S., & Lazarus, C. (2011, January). Evaluation of the effects of tongue-strengthening exercises in people with swallowing difficulties. Poster presented at the Asia-Pacific Society for the Study of Speech, Language and Hearing, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Papers in Refereed Journals

Adams, V., Callister, R., & Mathisen, B. (2011). Using tongue-strengthening exercise programs in dysphagia intervention. Asia-Pacific Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing. [in press].

Membership of Research Centres

Membership of Professional Networks