Applied Psycholinguistics Lab

10/24/2026

Exciting things are happening here!
Come work with us 🧡💙

📣 We’re hiring!

The Department of Speech and Hearing Science is looking for a Clinical Associate/Full Professor and Director of Clinical Education and Operations to lead clinical education and oversee the Speech-Language and Audiology Clinic.

You will help lead:
🎓 Graduate student clinical education and program accreditation
🏥 Daily clinic operations, budgets and staff
🔬 Clinical research and community outreach
🤝 Collaboration with faculty to advance clinical education and patient services

Full-time | $100,000–$125,000 | On-campus in Urbana-Champaign
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Learn more and apply by December 2, 2026, at 6 p.m. CT!
🔗https://buff.ly/oflGvKc

10/10/2026

TOGETHER we can help people with DLD thrive 💜💛

DLD (Developmental Language Disorder) is is a neurodevelopmental condition in the same waythat autism and ADHD are.
DLD specifically impacts on understanding and using words and sentences.
It has a genetic basis.
Activities that others find easy such as conversations with groups of friends can be tricky for people with DLD. That does not mean that people with DLD can't thrive. It just means they need others to know about DLD and to make small adjustments, as well as support. And you have a role to play in building a better world for people with DLD.
Go to radld.org and find out more.
We have facts sheets in 40 languages: https://radld.org/about/dld/dld-fact-sheet/
Friday October 16th 2026 'Together for DLD'

10/08/2026

TOGETHER we can make a difference for children and adults with DLD 🤝

When talking about DLD (Developmental Language Disorder) some well meaning people say things like 'she'll grow out of it' or 'it doesn't really matter.' A difficulty with talking and understanding (like DLD) may not sound like much to some people. But it can be a big deal for many with DLD because DLD impacts on education, mental well-being, relationships and employment. And those are big things. Awareness can really make a difference for people with DLD so join us and make a difference. Friday October 16th 2026 'Together for DLD' radld.org

10/08/2026

So proud of the fantastic work Dr Meaghan McKenna and her team are doing! Congratulations 🎉

A major step forward for children’s literacy!

Congratulations to Speech and Hearing Science Assistant Professor Meaghan McKenna on receiving a $1.87 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop and evaluate a technology-based program connecting writing and reading instruction.

“Reading often receives greater attention than writing in classrooms, leaving writing underprioritized despite its important role in children’s communication, literacy development and learning across all subjects.” McKenna said

Through the WriteStart project, McKenna and her research team will help educators assess student writing, monitor progress and use the results to make instructional decisions for young children, including students with disabilities and those at risk for academic difficulties.

We’re proud to celebrate research that is helping shape stronger literacy outcomes for students! 🧡💙

Read more: https://www.ahs.illinois.edu/mckenna-receives-1-87m-grant-to-connect-writing-and-reading-instruction/

09/13/2026

DLD is a difference in how the brain processes language. DLD impacts on understanding what others say and also putting thoughts into sentences.
People with DLD are still smart, creative, funny and everything else they want to be. But they face many barriers. And the biggest barrier they face is awareness.
We at RADLD are working to change that.
The theme for is 'together for DLD'. Join us in making a difference for people with DLD (Developmental Language Disorder). radld.org

08/19/2026

More evidence that DLD remains hidden – This recent LSHSS study finds that only 38.7% of caregivers reported concerns about their children’s oral language abilities. To improve the early identification of DLD, universal screening and greater public awareness of are needed

https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2026_LSHSS-25-00159

Despite the presence of language difficulties in children, caregivers were less likely to report an oral language concern compared to a literacy concern, which could lead to missed DLD (developmental language disorder) diagnoses, according to a study in Language, Speech, and Hearing Service...

07/21/2026

State Farm Center will be lit up tomorrow (7/22) for World Fragile X Day - spread the word to show your support!

Tomorrow night, State Farm Center lights up for World Fragile X Day.

Though rare, Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. An estimated 1 in 7,000 males and 1 in 11,000 females have FXS.

Help us spread awareness about the research into this genetic disorder.

(📸: World Fragile X Day 2024 / Laura Mattie)

UIUC Development in Neurogenetic Disabilities Lab

06/30/2026

Congratulations Dr Preza on the successful defense of your dissertation! Your future is so bright and we are so proud of you! ILL~ 🧡💙

06/26/2026

Congratulations to Windi Krok and our colleagues in the Northwestern Learn Lab on this recent publication documenting the validity and efficiency of the Sentence Diversity Priming Task for assessing early sentence development with late-talking toddlers.
Department of Speech & Hearing Science at Illinois

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of measures obtained from the Sentence Diversity Priming Task (SDPT), a structured...

05/17/2026

Congrats to APL graduates - Marco Barcenas Consuelo and Sylvia Techmanski 🎉🥳👏 ILL ~