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Connecting People to Sound
About & Our Reaearch Focus:
About & Our Reaearch Focus:
We are dedicated to improving hearing health, communication, and overall quality of life for aging adults through innovative, accessible technology.
Join TARCA LAB- We Are Recruiting Research Participants
Join TARCA LAB- We Are Recruiting Research Participants
Are you interested in helping shape the future of hearing health and communication? TARCA LAB at Kent State University is currently seeking participants for ongoing studies focused on understanding and improving hearing, speech perception, and digital healthcare tools for aging adults.
Who Can Participate?
Adults aged 50 and older (with or without diagnosed hearing loss)
Individuals interested in testing remote, web-based hearing tools and speech tasks
Anyone looking to contribute to cutting-edge research in aural rehabilitation and teleaudiology
What Does Participation Involve?
Flexible Participation: Studies can often be completed remotely from home on a computer or in person at the Kent State University Speech & Hearing Clinic.
Interactive Tasks: Activities may include simple listening exercises, interactive computer tasks (like mouse tracking), and brief auditory assessments.
No Specialized Equipment Needed: For remote studies, all you need is a standard computer with internet access and standard headphones.
Dr. Mark Krumm
Dr. Mark Krumm
Title: Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, Audiology
Bio: Dr. Mark Krumm is an Associate Professor in Audiology at Kent State University, specializing in teleaudiology, non-invasive hearing assessment technologies, and accessible hearing healthcare. Throughout his career, Dr. Krumm has pioneered remote hearing initiatives—from establishing statewide infant screening programs in North Dakota to serving as an international visiting scholar in Qatar, Poland, and India. A former Fulbright Foundation mentor, he is passionate about global collaboration, student mentorship, and developing practical telehealth solutions for diverse populations. Outside the lab and classroom, Dr. Krumm is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing on Lake Erie, hiking the Cuyahoga Valley National Park trails, and attending the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Education: Ph.D., Wichita State University; M.S. & B.S. in Audiology, University of Wyoming
Key Achievements: ASHA Clinician of the Year (North Dakota), Chair of the ASHA Working Committee for Telepractice, Fulbright Mentor, and lead investigator on multiple teleaudiology grants.
Dr. Jennifer Roche
Dr. Jennifer Roche
Title: Associate Professor, Speech Pathology & Audiology
Bio: Dr. Jennifer Roche is a Cognitive Scientist and Associate Professor of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Kent State University. With a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and postdoctoral training in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, her research bridges cognitive psychology, learning sciences, and real-world human communication. As Director of the Miscommunication and Dialogue Interaction (MADI) Lab, Dr. Roche uses advanced behavioral tracking techniques—such as eye-tracking, computer mouse-tracking, and acoustic speech analysis—to explore speech perception, real-time language processing, and conversational pragmatics. Dedicated to student mentorship, she actively guides undergraduate, master's, and doctoral researchers in understanding how people navigate talking, thinking, and human connection.
Education: Postdoc, University of Rochester; Ph.D., University of Memphis; M.A., James Madison University; B.A., UNLV
Key Achievements: Director of the MADI Lab, KSU UTC Faculty Recognition Award, and MVP Student Athlete Recognition Award.
Maddie Blenman
Role: Undergraduate Research Assistant & Web Developer
Contact: mblenma2@kent.edu
Class & Major: Senior | Major: Speech Pathology | Minor: Autism Spectrum Disorders
Bio: Senior studying Speech Pathology & Audiology at Kent State University. Maddie contributes to TARCA LAB by assisting with study logistics, participant recruitment, and data management, and designed the lab’s official website and social media platforms you can find us on instagram @
Diana Antostansi
Role: Student Research Assistant
Contact: dantonsa@kent.edu
Class & Major: Senior | Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology | Minor: Spanish
Bio: Student researcher at Kent State University contributing to TARCA LAB by supporting participant recruitment, study scheduling, and data management for ongoing hearing health research. Diana is also bilingual, so she will be able to help our Spanish-speaking participants.
Sophia Hierro
Role: Student Research Assistant
Contact: shierro@kent.edu
Class & Major: Sophomore | Major: Speech Pathology & Audiology
Bio: Student researcher at Kent State University supporting TARCA LAB initiatives through participant coordination, testing logistics, and data collection for teleaudiology studies.
Savannah Smith
Role: Student Research Assistant
Contact: ssmit336@kent.edu
Class & Major: Senior | Major: Speech Pathology & Audiology | Minor: Autism Spectrum Disorders
Bio: Student researcher at Kent State University contributing to TARCA LAB by assisting with participant scheduling, study execution, and behavioral data collection.
Taylor Lockhart
Role: Student Research Assistant
Contact: tlockha9@kent.edu
Class & Major: Junior | Major: Speech Pathology & Audiology | Minor: Psychology, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Early to Moderate Special Education
Bio: Student researcher at Kent State University assisting TARCA LAB with participant communications, remote testing sessions, and research data management.
Maya Sted
Role: Student Research Assistant
Contact: msted@kent.edu
Class & Major: Senior | Major: Speech Pathology & Audiology | Minor: Psychology
Bio: Student researcher at Kent State University supporting TARCA LAB by assisting with participant recruitment, testing protocols, and research administration.
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