Gemma Cartney
PhD candidate in Speech and Language Therapy
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
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Hi, I'm Gemma. I'm an SLT researching the use of ultrasound imaging for swallowing assessment.
Hi, I'm Gemma. I'm an SLT researching the use of ultrasound imaging for swallowing assessment.
Doctoral research
Doctoral research
My PhD project is looking at the use of ultrasound imaging as a potential clinical swallowing assessment tool for people with Parkinson's.
I am exploring a range of ultrasound measures to investigate:
early signs of (subclinical) swallowing changes in Parkinson's
clinical biomarkers of Parkinson's dysphagia
I am also investigating user and patient perspectives.
Supervisor Team: Dr. Joan Ma & Prof. James M. Scobbie
Selected outputs
Selected outputs
Cartney, G. and Ma, J.K.-Y. (2023) ‘Hyoid trajectory analysis of sequential and discrete swallows in healthy individuals using Ultrasound Evaluation of Swallowing’, in ESSD 2023 13th Annual Congress: Deglutition: what a junction!
https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/13721
Dokovova, M., Sugden, E., Cartney, G., Schaeffler, S., & Cleland, J. (2023). Tongue shape complexity in children with and without speech sound disorders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66(7), 2164-2183. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2023_JSLHR-22-00472
Other projects
Other projects
I am currently involved in the Parkinson's Guidance Project with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Parkinson's UK.
I have a background in Linguistics, and I'm interested in the use of ultrasound imaging for speech.
I have assisted in recording speech ultrasound and audio, and in analysing children's typical and disordered speech for the Seeing Speech STAR project with the University of Strathclyde.
See STAR ultrasound speech recordings here
I also have experience in voice quality analysis including Vocal Profile Analysis for The Voice Distillery at Queen Margaret University.
My doctoral research is part of the Swallow Vision Project
Swallow Vision uses Ultrasound Evaluation of Swallowing, an innovative imaging and analysis procedure
Why ultrasound?
Why ultrasound?
I am interested in how instrumental tools can enhance Speech and Language Therapy practice.
Instrumental techniques may uncover surprising findings that might challenge our common beliefs and support appropriate diagnosis and management.
Ultrasound is minimally-invasive and accessible, and can visualise the tongue and hyoid during swallowing and speech.
Ultrasound also supports objective measurement of structures and movements.
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