Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning

07/25/2025

🗣️ NUCASLL’s Intensive Aphasia/Apraxia Program (IAP) team—Drs. Belma Hadziselimovic, Karen Kinderman, Sarah Penzell, and Aaron Wilkins—along with eight MS SLL graduate students, welcomed a new client in early July for four weeks of intensive speech and language therapy.

Using a 4x4x4 model (4 weeks, 4 days/week, 4 hours/day), the IAP provides personalized, high-intensity therapy services and an invaluable clinical training experience for our graduate students. Many clients also continue their journey with us through our Aphasia Center group programs. 💬🧠

We’re proud to offer this impactful program for the second time this academic year. 💙

07/18/2025

Supporting Community Wellness in Irving Park 🏥👂👣
CSD faculty and NUCASLL clinician Dr. Katherine Swem, AuD, and Doctor of Audiology students from NUCASLL partnered with Northwestern’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program to provide free hearing screenings and balance and fall risk assessments at the Irving Park Hearing & Balance Fair.

Hosted by Irving Park Community Food Pantry and Irving Park Lutheran Church, the event brought together a range of services to support community members—including social work resources 🧑‍⚕️, hearing and balance education 🎧, and advocacy opportunities with local leaders 🗣️.

NUCASLL is proud to support equitable access to care and to collaborate on interprofessional outreach like this. 💜

07/11/2025

📰 The Spring 2025 issue of CSD Connects is here!

Get the latest updates from the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

🧠 Explore faculty and student accomplishments
🔬 Discover new research initiatives
🗞️ Stay current with departmental news

🔗 Link: https://bit.ly/3TvWC18

07/10/2025

Learning to read is a team effort!💬
When parents and caregivers, teachers, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work together to support them, kids build the strong foundation they need to grow as confident, capable readers.

Our summer Literacy Support Program supports children entering grades K–5 who could use a gentle boost in early reading skills—like sound awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension.

🗓️ Sessions: August 4–8 or August 11–15
📍 Located at NUCASLL in Evanston
👩‍⚕️ Led by licensed SLP & supervised grad students
👥 Small-group, supportive setting

📲 Register by July 25—visit the link in our profile to learn more!



📹Video Description: Animated explainer video with light-hearted music and cartoon-style graphics, highlighting how caregivers, teachers, and speech-language pathologists all support a child's journey toward reading. The video walks through the different ways each role helps—from reading together at home to classroom instruction and SLP support for language development—and ends with an invitation to join the NUCASLL summer literacy and language program for children entering grades K–5.

07/09/2025

🎓 This year, 21 faculty and staff from the School of Communication joined nearly 250 colleagues across Northwestern for the University Practicum on Supporting Student Success—a professional learning series led by the Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching and focused on focused on student-centered, evidence-based teaching.

👏 A special shoutout to CSD associate clinical professor and NUCASLL clinical supervisor Judy Roman, who earned a digital badge for her deep engagement with the practicum!

By helping students thrive during their time at Northwestern, our educators are also preparing them to make meaningful impacts in their communities and future beyond campus.

06/26/2025

🎉 Something new is coming from NUCASLL!
Our very first monthly newsletter drops Monday — and we’re excited to share helpful tips on speech, language, and hearing, introduce you to our clinical team, and highlight upcoming events and community collaborations.

This newsletter is designed for patients, families, and anyone interested in communication and hearing health. Even if you’re not currently receiving services, you’re welcome to follow along!

📬 Want it in your inbox? Sign up here: https://nucasll.northwestern.edu/newsletter/

06/19/2025

🧠💬 June is Aphasia Awareness Month 💬🧠

Language helps us connect. When it's disrupted, that connection can feel out of reach.

Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to speak, understand, read, or write—but not their intelligence. 🗣️📖 It’s most often caused by stroke or brain injury, and every person’s experience with aphasia is different.

At NUCASLL, we’re proud to support people with aphasia through therapy, communication strategies, and personalized care. 💜

Learn more through the —and join us in spreading awareness this month. 📣

06/18/2025

🌟 Spring Quarter Wrap-Up: Growing Impact with Mitzi Freidheim Child and Family Center 🌟

Since launching our partnership in October 2024, NUCASLL has been proud to support Brightpoint-Mitzi Freidheim — an early childhood and family center in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, serving families experiencing low income, housing insecurity, or foster care. 💙🏠👶🏽

Over the 2024–2025 school year, in partnership with Clinic Director Dr. Nathan Waller and Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Rylie Young, our team worked alongside educators and specialists at Brightpoint-Mitzi Freidheim to co-create a speech and language program tailored to the needs of their community. MS SLL graduate student clinicians provided whole-classroom enrichment and individualized support for children with IEPs who face barriers to accessing services — all while gaining valuable experience in trauma-informed care. 👧🏾👦🏼👶🏿

💜 Approx. 60+ children received 2 rounds of whole-classroom language enrichment
💜 71% of children receiving direct support made 20%+ progress toward their goals
💜 110 graduate student clinical hours per quarter (on average)
💜 9 out of 9 grad students collaborated with Brightpoint’s on-site social worker using trauma-informed strategies

We’re grateful for this meaningful collaboration helping break down barriers to essential speech and language services in the community. Huge thanks to Dr. Nathan Waller, Dr. Rylie Young, our graduate clinicians, and the team at Brightpoint-Mitzi Freidheim!

06/06/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Laura Glick, Program Coordinator of Revenue Cycle, on receiving this year’s School of Communication Staff Award for Excellence! 🏆

Since joining NUCASLL in 2016, Laura has been a vital part of our team. She helps clients and families navigate insurance with clarity and compassion—while also working to improve internal processes that support a smoother billing experience. 💬💙

We’re so grateful for Laura’s dedication, care, and behind-the-scenes efforts that make a big difference every day. This recognition is well deserved! 🌟👏

06/05/2025

📚 Summer Literacy Camp at NUCASLL! 🌞
If your child struggles with reading, this camp offers targeted support to build confidence and key literacy skills.

🗓️ Two sessions available:
➤ Aug 4–8 | 10AM–12PM
➤ Aug 11–15 | 10AM–12PM
📍 2315 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL (NUCASLL)
📣 For rising grades K–5

Led by Dr. E. Debbie Lee, SLPD, CCC-SLP, this (pre)literacy-focused camp will help young children grow as readers and support families with practical, at-home resources. It covers phonemic awareness, comprehension strategies, and vocabulary development.

💲 $200 per session
📲 Limited spots available!
Register via the QR code in the slides or the link in bio.
❓Questions? Contact Dr. Debbie Lee at e.debbielee@northwestern.edu

04/09/2025

Big thanks to the Evanston RoundTable for featuring tonight’s stuttering event on campus at NU! There’s still time to register and we hope to see you there!

San Francisco-based filmmaker Maya Chupkov will be bringing her message of strength and resilience to the Chicagoland stuttering community in partnership

04/09/2025

Registration is open for our upcoming continuing education event, All Brains Connect: Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice in Action. This free event is offered virtually and is available for ASHA CEU's. Register today!

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