Dalhousie School of Communication Sciences and Disorders

09/03/2026

New research: Community hearing aid programs really work.
A study published in the American Journal of Audiology (AJA) by Dalhousie University researchers examined outcomes among 179 low-income adults in The Dalhousie Hearing Aid Assistance Program and found that when cost barriers are removed, people don't just get hearing aids. They thrive with them:
-89% received hearing aids for both ears
-Nearly 9.2 hours of daily use on average (that's strong adoption)
-Big drops in self-reported hearing handicap, sustained at both 3 and 12 months
-Over 80% reported meaningful improvement in their specific listening goals
The takeaway: Financial and access barriers, not motivation or ability to benefit, are often what keep people from better hearing health. Community based, publicly funded programs can close that gap and change lives.
Read the abstract in the American Journal of Audiology: https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2026_AJA-26-00091

08/10/2026

SCSD Grad Profile: Rachel Chan, Speech‑Language Pathology! https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/news-events/news/2026/08/08/grad_profile__helping_people_communicate__connect_and_thrive.html

08/06/2026

SCSD is celebrating 50 years of excellence in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Over 100 alumni and retired staff/faculty members came together with current students, faculty, and staff to commemorate this milestone and what the program has meant to our region. Here are some photos from the event. https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/scsd/news-events.html

07/30/2026

Looking Ahead: LookingSCSD Celebrates Its Past While Expanding Access to Care!
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/news-events/news/2026/07/30/looking_ahead__dal_s_scsd_celebrates_its_past_while_expanding_access_to_care.html

07/21/2026

Congratulations to SCSD's Kelly Root who received the André Lafargue Mentorship Award from SAC!

06/22/2026

We’re proud to share that Dr. Zahra Jafari of Dalhousie University is a 2026 recipient of the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) New Investigator Grant.

Her project, An Inclusive Approach Towards Developing Biomarkers of Subjective Cognitive Decline and Progression to Dementia, aims to improve the early detection of cognitive decline using innovative eye-tracking technology and visual memory tasks. The goal is to identify those at higher risk earlier, helping individuals, families, and health-care providers access support and plan for care sooner.

Congratulations, Dr. Jafari! Learn more about her work and the other researchers here: www.alzheimer.ca/en/research/alzheimer-society-research-program/latest-funding-results?fbclid=IwY2xjawSmCCZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeo-UvnChglp3YsQOOL-wtuWjK6JZ5KflU9gTaW2DmPDbh2vDzugus2lt8-Bk_aem_0g1b3_WG1hl2ib2HP3LG2w

05/22/2026

SCSD held its anniversary gala luncheon on April 29 where we celebrated 50 years of teaching and clinical excellence. You can watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/wzpfUHdGd1Y

We couldn't be where we are today without our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and community partners.

05/19/2026

On the occasion of our 50th anniversary, Will Webster, Joy Armson, Pat Cleave, Elizabeth Kay-Raining Bird, and Anne Godden-Webster donated a portrait of Mabel Hubbard Bell to the School! The artist, Jo Napier of Great Women Productions, showcases the contributions of women to advancements in science, law, health care, and social welfare. The portrait was presented to the School at a special gathering! It is now displayed proudly in our reception area along with a short text about her contributions.

05/04/2026

SCSD is celebrating its 50th anniversary! Clients of our speech, language, and hearing clinics, as well as alumni, share the impact the School has:

SCSD: 50 Years of Impact and Connection

04/23/2026

SCSD's Savanna Richard & Sophia Hibbert received a SAC Student Initiative Grant for Promoting Hearing Health at Dalhousie University on World Hearing Day!