Erin O'Bryan PhD, CCC-SLP

2003 - PhD, Linguistics, University of Arizona
2007 - MS, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona
1997 - BA, Linguistics, University of Kansas

Dr. O'Bryan's areas of research interest include aphasia treatment, care partner and family engagement in therapy, supported storytelling, Melodic Intonation Therapy, community education about aphasia and supported communication strategies, sentence processing, the syntax-semantics interface, and telepractice. 

Dr. O'Bryan currently teaches Masters level courses in Aphasia, Voice, and Dysphagia and an undergraduate level course in Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms. Dr. O'Bryan occasionally teaches Cognitive Communication Disorders.  

O'Bryan, E. L. & Strong, K. A. (2024). Person-centered stories on the main stage in intervention: Case examples from the My Story Project, Aphasia! This Is Our World, and Aphasia-Friendly Reading. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_PERSP-23-00272

O’Bryan, E. L., Regier, H. R., & Strong, K. A. (2023). “I wasn’t just sitting there”: Empowering care partners through the Aphasia-Friendly Reading approach. Aphasiology, https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2023.2272956

Darland, K., O’Bryan, E., Richburg, C. M., Bernstorf, E. (2022): The effects of varying melodic intervals in Melodic Intonation Therapy for persons with aphasia. Aphasiology, 37(8), 1263–1284, https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2022.2089971

DeDe, G. & O’Bryan, E. (2018). Chapter 11: Syntax and linguistic-based approaches. In L. LaPointe (Ed.), Aphasia and Related Neurogenic Language Disorders, 5^th Edition. Thieme Medical Publishers, New York, NY.

O'Bryan, E., Folli, R., Harley, H., & Bever, T. G. (2013). Evidence for the use of verb telicity in sentence comprehension. In R. Folli et al. (Eds.), Syntax and its Limits, pp. 80-104.

DeDe, G. & O’Bryan, E. (2011). Chapter 11: Syntax and linguistic-based approaches. In L. LaPointe (Ed.), Aphasia and Related Neurogenic Language Disorders, 4^th Edition. Thieme Medical Publishers, New York, NY.

O’Bryan, E. (2001). Syntax in performance: Minimalist derivation in the Late Assignment of Syntax Theory. Coyote Papers 12: Language in Cognitive Science, 17-27.

Hayes, R., Lewis, W., O’Bryan, E., & Zamuner, T. (Eds.) (2001). Coyote Papers 12: Language in Cognitive Science.

O’Bryan, E. (2000). Processing differences in synthetic versus natural speech: Evidence from garden path sentences. MIT Working Papers in Linguistics, 36, 171-179.

Weinberg, J., O’Bryan, E., Moll, L., & Haugen, J. (Eds.) (2000). Coyote Papers 11: Special Volume on Native American Languages.

Communication Sciences and Disorders Dept, Wichita State University, Assistant Professor, 07/28/2019 to present

Speech, Language, & Hearin­­g Sciences Dept, Purdue University, Visiting Scholar, 10/2009-12/2011

Gerontology Center, Lifespan Institute, U of Kansas, Post-doctoral Affiliate, 12/2008 – 8/2009

Aphasia Research Project directed by Pélagie Beeson, U of Arizona Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences (SLHS) Dept

Research Specialist & SLP Clinical Fellow, 2/2008 – 11/2008, Research Assistant, 6/2006 – 12/2007

Language & Cognition Laboratory directed by Thomas Bever, U of Arizona Linguistics Dept

Post-doctoral Research Associate, 1/2004 – 8/2005, Research Assistant/Associate, 8/1997 – 12/2003 

 

Professional certification & Licensure

• Speech Language Pathologist License, Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment, 1/2/2009 to 10/31/2010, 5/1/2015 to present
• Speech Language Pathologist, Certificate of Clinical Competence, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2/2009 to present
• Speech Language Pathologist, Indiana Professional Licensing Agency 2009-2015
• Temporary License, Speech Language Pathologist, Arizona Department of Health Services, 2/5/2008 to 8/31/2009

Life Care Center of Wichita, Wichita, KS, Speech Language Pathologist, 9/2015 to present

Rehab Care, Homestead Health Center, Wichita, KS, Speech Language Pathologist, 5/2015 to 9/2015

Paragon Rehabilitation, St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Delphi, IN and St. Mary Healthcare in Lafayette, IN, Speech Language Pathologist, 4/2014 to 5/2015

Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health, Lafayette, IN: Speech Language Pathologist, 9/2009 to 4/2014

Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health, Crawfordsville, IN: Coordinator, Stroke and Aphasia Support Group, 9/2009 to 2/2012

St. Luke’s Health System, St. Luke’s South, Overland Park, KS: Speech Pathologist, 2/2009 to 5/2009 

Aphasia Research Project, U of Arizona, Tucson: Clinical Fellow, 2/2008 – 11/2008 

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ: Clinical Externship, 9/2007 - 12/2007

U of Arizona Speech-Language Clinics for Adults & Children: Graduate Clinician, 6/2006 – 12/2007

• Wichita State University College of Health Professions Alpha Eta National Honors Society, 2022 
• Galileo Circle Scholarship, University of Arizona College of Science, 2006
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Graduate Student Scholarship, 2005
• UMI Distinguished Dissertation Award Nomination, Social & Behavioral Sciences Division. My dissertation was the one chosen from U of Arizona for the national competition in 2003-2004.
• Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, member since 1996
• University of Kansas Honors Program, member 1992-1997

• Regional Institute on Aging (RIA) Research Award: "The Role of Melodic Interval in Melodic Intonation Therapy," Role: PI with Co-Investigators Dr. Amy Chesser, Dr. Elaine Bernstorf, and Dr. Cynthia Richburg, awarded 6/30/2023 for grant period 6/30/2023 to 6/29/2024.
• Multi-Disciplinary Research Project Award (MURPA): “Computerized Sentence Building as a Therapy Tool for People With Aphasia,” Role: Co-PI with Dr. Huabo Lu, awarded 12/2/2020 for grant period 1/1/2021-6/15/2021.
• Health Concepts Foundation (community non-profit organization): “Making Electrical Stimulation Therapy for Swallowing Dysfunction Available to the Community Through WSU’s Speech Language Hearing Clinic," Role: PI, awarded 1/13/2020 for grant period 1/13/2020-12/31/2020.
• University Research/Creative Projects Award (URCA): “Effect of the Word Maze Treatment in People With Aphasia: A Pilot Study," Role: PI, awarded 12/5/2019 for the grant period 12/5/2019-12/31/2020.
• National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant #0132380: “Event Structure in Language Comprehension," co-PI with Dr. Thomas G. Bever, 2002-2003.
• U of Arizona Graduate & Professional Student Travel Grant for presentation at “It’s About Time” workshop at Linguistics Society of America Summer Institute in East Lansing, Michigan, 2003.
• U of Arizona Graduate & Professional Student Travel Grant for presentation at Architectures and Mechanisms for Language Processing Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, 2002.
• Undergraduate Research Award for Linguistics research “The Social Markers of Vowel Laxing Before /l/” from U of Kansas Honors Program, 1995.