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
Ma, J. K. Y., Alqattan, D., Cartney, G., & Quezada, G. (2026). Speech and language therapists’ perspectives on dysphagia screening, monitoring and biofeedback: a survey exploring the potential role of Ultrasound Evaluation of Swallowing (USES). Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/22000259.2026.2741415
Cartney, G., Ma, J. K. Y., and Scobbie, J. M. (2024) 'Ultrasound Evaluation of Swallowing to detect subclinical changes in swallow kinematics and timings in early Parkinson’s', in ESSD 2024 14th Annual Congress: From Bench to Bedside. Dysphagia 40 (Suppl 2), 178–261 (2025).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00455-025-10914-3#Sec457
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-ESSD 2023 13th Annual Congress Deglutition: What a Junction!. Dysphagia 40 (Suppl 2), 93–177 (2025).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00455-025-10864-w#Sec161
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.
Other projects
Other projects
I am a supporting author for 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 am experienced in recording speech ultrasound and audio, and instrumental analysis of children's typical and disordered speech, particularly as part of 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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