Visual Examination of Voice Disorders

Christine Sapienza, Ph.D. Christine Sapienza, Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. She also is a research career health scientist at the Malcom Randall VA in Gainesville, Florida, with the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center. Dr. Sapienza received her Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1993 in speech and voice science, and her current research interests are disordered voice production, treatment of neuromotor disorders, defining outcomes of strength training paradigms, and integrating basic physiological techniques to study rehabilitation strategies. Her most recent work focuses on the use of strength training paradigms in multiple populations, including Parkinson's disease, voice disorders, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis. She maintains an active research laboratory with four current Ph.D. students. She has several active grants, including an NIH/NCMMR R21 and a VA Merit Review. She has over 100 publications and 150 lectures, presentations, and workshops to date. Bari Ruddy, Ph.D. Dr. Hoffman Ruddy is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida, Orlando. She also serves as the Director of the Voice Care Center at the Ear Nose & Throat Surgical Associates, Orlando, Florida, and has worked clinically in this center for over twelve years. Hoffman Ruddy received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 2001. Her clinical work and research focus on the physiologic study of voice production in pediatric, professional, and neurogenic populations. Her current research interests involve the application of computer simulation training of voice therapy with children and adults, as well as 3D computer modeling of upper and lower airway function in patients with malignant lesions. She actively publishes and lectures in these clinical areas.