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Lynn M. Maher, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Maher

Professor
Phone: (713) 743-3782 
Email: lmmaher@uh.edu  
Office: Melcher Life Sciences M245B
Curriculum Vitae


Dr. Lynn Maher is a Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston. She teaches the graduate courses in Aphasia and Motor Speech Disorders. Dr. Maher’s research interests, funded by the NIH NIDCD and NIA, the DOD and previously by the VA Rehab R & D, are in the understanding and rehabilitation of aphasia and related disorders. She currently collaborates with investigators at Baylor College of Medicine and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Maher has an adjunct faculty appointment at Rice University, and is a Founding Board Member of the Houston Aphasia Recovery Center, a nonprofit wellness center for people with aphasia and their families. 

Education

  • Ph.D., Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • M.A., Speech Pathology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
  • B.A., Speech Pathology and Audiology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

Teaching

  • Aphasia and Related Communication Disorders (COMD 6334)
  • Motor Speech Disorders (COMD 6326)

Research Interests

Dr. Maher’s current research focus is on exploring ways to exploit the brain’s neuroplastic potential for recovery of function following brain damage. She and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania are currently investigating the application of non-invasive brain stimulation paired with use-dependent learning in the form of Constraint Induced Language Therapy for the rehabilitation of post-stroke aphasia and primary progressive aphasia. In Houston, she is working with the staff at the Houston Aphasia Recovery Center to develop their program of research. For more information, view Dr. Maher’s research page.

Research Grants

(past 5 years)

  • 2020-2023  Department of Defense (DoD), Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Reveal Mechanisms of Language Loss and to Treat Progressive Aphasia Associated with FTD and Related Dementia, Role: Co-Investigator  
  • 2019-2024  National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Aging (NIH/NIA), R01AG059763, Treating Primary Progressive Aphasia and Elucidating Neurodegeneration in the Language Network Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Role: Co-Investigator 
  • 2018-2023 National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD), 1R01DC0116800-01A1, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Aphasia: Efficacy and Neural Basis, Role: Co-Investigator 
  • 2016-2020  National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD), 1R01DC014976-01, Language and Neural Recovery from Stroke: Role of Selection and Working Memory, Role: Co-Investigator

Selected Publications

(for a full list of publicationns, see curriculum vitae)

  • Zafer, K., Dehgan, M. W., Shadravan, S., Yozbatiran, N., Maher, L. M.Francisco, G. E. (2017). Combined Dextroamphetamine and transcranial direct current stimulation in poststroke aphasia. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 96(10), S141-S145. 

  • Kirmess, K.,&Maher, L. M. (2010). Constraint induced language therapy in early aphasia rehabilitation. Aphasiology, 24(6), 725-736.

  • Breier,J.I., Juranek, J., Schmadeke, S., Maher, L. M.Papanicolaou, A. C. (2009) Behavioral and neurophysiological response to therapy for chronic aphasia. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 90(12), 2026-2033.

  • Raymer, A.M., Beeson, P., Holland, A.,Kendall, D., Maher, L. M., Martin, N.,  & Altmann, L. (2008). Translational research in aphasia: From neuroscience to neurorehabilitation. Journal of Speech-Language-Hearing Research, 51(1), S259-S275.

  • Maher, L.M., Kendall, D., Swearengin, J.A., Rodriguez, A., Leon, S. A., Pingel, K.,  & Gonzalez Rothi, L. J. (2006). A pilot study of use-dependent learning in the context of Constraint Induced Language Therapy. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 12(6), 843-852.

Honors

  • Fellow, American Speech-Language Hearing Association

Professional Activities

  • Houston Aphasia Recovery Center Board of Directors and Professional Advisory Board 
  • Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Research Committee Chair 
  • American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology Editorial Board