Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at The University of Iowa is one of the oldest, largest, and highly respected programs of its kind. Until 2008, it was called the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. We have been training students and serving clients with speech, language, and hearing disorders for more than 60 years. The graduate programs in Speech Pathology and in Audiology are ranked #1 and #2 in the country by U.S. News and World Reports.

  • Research faculty and staff work side by side with graduate students in CSD research labs. Here, speech samples collected in a research study are analyzed in the Word Learning Lab.
  • Clinical audiologists help graduate students hone their skills in the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic. In addition to training students in speech-language pathology and audiology, the Clinic serves approximately 750 clients each year with communication disorders – including hearing loss -- in the local and statewide community.
  • A tyke in the KidTalk preschool listens in a group activity. Housed inside the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, KidTalk serves children with speech, hearing or language disorders. Graduate students gain experience as they provide therapy to preschoolers under the guidance of clinical faculty. KidTalk is a partnership with the Iowa City Community School District.
  • Professors Karla McGregor and Bob McMurray develop a research protocol in the Word Learning Lab. In addition to classrooms, offices and two preschools for children with communication difficulties, the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center contains more than 11,000 square feet of laboratory space.

Noteworthy