SLP Professors Lead Shift Toward Motor-Based Understanding of Speech Sound Disorders

Professors Pascal van Lieshout & Aravind Namasivayam

The Department of Speech‑Language Pathology at U of T is celebrating an exciting milestone as Professors Pascal van Lieshout and Aravind Namasivayam publish groundbreaking research that challenges long‑standing clinical approaches to paediatric speech sound disorders.

Their new study, featured in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, calls for a fundamental shift in how clinicians assess children’s speech, emphasizing the importance of motor‑based factors such as jaw, lip, and tongue movement. This represents a significant departure from decades of reliance on purely auditory-perceptual, language‑based assessments.

For the SLP program, this work reinforces our leadership in advancing evidence‑informed, multidimensional approaches to communication disorders. It highlights the growing role of instrument‑based assessment tools—, including imaging and acoustic analysis, in identifying the root causes of speech challenges. Most importantly, it moves the profession further toward precision‑based, personalized intervention, with real‑world impact for children and families.

Stories like that of five‑year‑old Zach*, who made remarkable progress after receiving motor‑focused therapy guided by ultrasound technology, reflect the promise of this research and its potential to transform clinical practice across Canada and beyond.

A huge congratulations to Professors van Lieshout and Namasivayam on this important contribution to the field and to our SLP community.

Read the full feature on the: Temerty Medicine website.

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*Name has been changed to protect privacy. Story adapted from Temerty Medicine feature.