Two faculty members at UT Dallas’ Callier Center for Communication Disorders were honored recently for their roles in advancing research and clinical care in hearing science.

Hearing aid manufacturer Phonak International selected Dr. Linda Thibodeau, a professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS), for its annual Cheryl DeConde Johnson Award for Outstanding Achievement in Educational and Pediatric Audiology.

Dr. Emily Tobey, associate provost and Nelle C. Johnston Chair in Communication Disorders in BBS, was named 2011 Distinguished Alumni for the College of Education at New Mexico State University.       

“Dr. Thibodeau exemplifies the marriage of service, research and teaching and has made significant contributions to hearing aid and FM research, particularly as it pertains to school-age children.”

Cheryl DeConde Johnson

Thibodeau serves on the board of directors for the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology and has conducted research and workshops focused on measuring the benefit of FM listening systems for deaf or hard of hearing children. She also has served as the chair of standards committees, published her research on speech perception, amplification and hearing assistive technology in many journals and texts, and maintained a webpage with resources for teachers, students and families.

Phonak launched the award in 2007 to honor educational and pediatric audiologists for outstanding work advocating and improving communication as well as academic outcomes for children. The award is named for Cheryl DeConde Johnson, who formerly directed audiology and deaf education programs for the state of Colorado.

As a member of the award selection committee, Johnson praised Thibodeau for her accomplishments.

“Dr. Thibodeau exemplifies the marriage of service, research and teaching and has made significant contributions to hearing aid and FM research, particularly as it pertains to school-age children,” Johnson said. “We are privileged to have her as a peer and delighted to acknowledge her outstanding contributions. Her service to the profession over the past two decades is so impressive and truly exemplifies the spirit of the award.”

Thibodeau said Cheryl DeConde Johnson set a high bar for promoting educational services and technology with the student, family, teachers and administrators working as a team with the professional to maximize communication.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to explore wireless technology benefits through research, consulting, teaching and intensive rehabilitative programs to continue Dr. DeConde Johnson’s quest for optimal communication for students in all situations, including their academic, social and extracurricular experiences,” she said.

“My years at NMSU provided me a solid foundation for the remainder of my career and provided me with a lifelong interest in communication disorders. My friends and colleagues from NMSU remain my role models, and I look forward to joining them for these festivities.”

Dr. Emily Tobey

Tobey will be honored by New Mexico State University during homecoming week in October. She has received many national and international awards in the past, including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Honors of the Association last year. Tobey is an internationally recognized expert in the field of cochlear implantation and serves as an associate editor for several leading journals. 

Dr. Marlene Salas-Provance, director of the communication disorders program at New Mexico State University, said Tobey continues to have an exemplary career that began at NMSU.  “I cannot be more proud of her significant contributions to the field over the years,” she said. “NMSU is thrilled to be able to bring Dr. Tobey back ‘home’ to honor her and her work.”

Tobey has made important contributions concerning the longitudinal effects of cochlear implantation on children during her decades-long focus on speech production and oral language development in young people who use cochlear implants. Her work has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other agencies since 1975, and she currently holds three active NIH grants. 

Tobey’s recent research has expanded to include using the latest imaging techniques to study changes in brain function in adults who receive cochlear implants.

“I am thrilled to be honored by NMSU as a distinguished alumna,” she said. “My years at NMSU provided me a solid foundation for the remainder of my career and provided me with a lifelong interest in communication disorders. My friends and colleagues from NMSU remain my role models, and I look forward to joining them for these festivities.”