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Staff Profile

Professor Julie Morris

Professor of Speech & Language Science

  • Address: Room 2.09 KGVI
    School of ECLS
    King George VI Building
    Newcastle University
    Queen Victoria Road
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Background


My interest and expertise is in acquired communication difficulties and, in particular, aphasia. I am part of the Tavistock Aphasia Centre (https://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/about-us/facilities/tavistock-aphasia-centre/), a centre of excellence for aphasia teaching and provision. This interest in aphasia is reflected across my research and teaching. I am passionate about working with our next generation of Speech and Language Therapists through their education journey and, in my research, to contributing to improved outcomes for people with communication difficulties. 


My research focuses on comprehension of language, particularly in reading and word retrieval. Funded projects have included Stroke Association (Reading Comprehension), NIHR (word retrieval) and I am currently Co-Investigator on an ESRC project led by Laurence White, which examines speech timing.


I welcome interest from potential PhD students or Fellowship applicants who have an interest in profiling and treatment of aphasia, particularly comprehension (auditory and written/reading). I can support interested students to apply for doctoral funding (e.g. from the Stroke Association or ESRC). Please also view the profiles of other colleagues at Newcastle who I work closely with - Janet Webster, Christos Salis, Fiona Menger,


Working with colleagues in Speech and Language Sciences and in Computing, we are working towards the final stages of publication of an assessment of reading in aphasia (CARA: Comprehensive Assessment of Reading in Aphasia; https://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/research/research-themes/language-disorders/cara/)


I am a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, graduating from City University in 1990 and completing my DPhil in Psychology at York University in 1997. I have held a variety of clinical, research and lecturing posts, specialising in adult acquired communication disorders. My doctorial work focused on word deafness and the evaluation of its treatment, working with Andy Ellis and Sue Franklin. Previously I was involved in the PATSy project, an Internet based teaching and research resource. Using this resource I was part of a large multi-centre ESRC TRLP project examining the role of vicarious learning in clinical education.


I have held various leadership positions at the University, most recently Head of the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences (ECLS).

Research

Research Interests


My research interests relate to aphasia and other adult acquired communication difficulties, particularly the processes involved in understanding language, across both spoken and written modalities. How is this affected in aphasia, and what does this mean for models of language processing? What are the most effective ways of working with people with aphasia who have problems of comprehension? This spans auditory, written word, and semantic processing.


Currently, I am Co-Investigator on an ESRC funded project, led by Laurence White, which explores how we manage the complex process of how listeners predict the timing of speech, and how this used to interpret spoken language. See Predicting the timing of talking | Education, Communication and Language Sciences | Newcastle University


Alongside this, I continue to explore reading comprehension in aphasia: the profiles of reading strength and difficulty, the impact for people with aphasia, assessment and intervention.


My research in aphasia draws on a range of theoretical models, including models of single word processing, sentence processing and text/discourse processing but also includes application of social models. We need to understand the underlying linguistic impairment but, in designing and evaluating assessments and treatments, we need to consider the impact for the individual in their everyday life. Relating our understanding of linguistic impairment to the person’s real life is a current challenge in the field, and one that my research strives to contribute to. In evaluating the efficacy of therapy, there is a challenge of measurement. How do we best measure impact for the individual?


In taking my research forward, people with aphasia are at the centre . The research needs to have an impact for the individual, but the wider aphasia community needs to be involved further. This is achieved in several ways, including via consultation and evaluation of services (Aphasia Centre), via involvement with people with aphasia in NETA (North East Trust for Aphasia; http://www.neta.org.uk/), a local charity of which I am a trustee, and via the Aphasia Research User Group (ARUG; https://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/research/speechlanguage/arug/).


My aim is that my research will contribute to our understanding of acquired communication difficulties and our practice when working clinically. My research aims to directly impact on the quality of service and treatment of people with aphasia and other adult acquired communication difficulties.


If you are interested in potential postgraduate study, linked to the areas of research described, do get in touch to explore ideas. I have supported people to apply successfully to the Stroke Association and the ESRC NINEDTP for doctoral fellowships. 

 

Teaching

Speech and Language Sciences has a deservedly excellent reputation for its teaching and learning, with a superb group of colleagues delivering this excellence and continuing to innovate in our teaching.


I am Module Leader for our case based learning module, which focuses on speech and language pathology, using an approach that underpins learning across the programmes.


I work with our undergraduate and masters students to support their achievements within their dissertation work.

Publications