Pre-Conference Workshops

Pre-Conference Timetable — November 26, 2026

Assessment and Treatment of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction / vocal cord dysfunction

Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO) also known as vocal cord dysfunction / paradoxical vocal fold motion, is a common yet frequently overlooked cause of breathing difficulty during exercise, especially among athletes, adolescents, and active individuals. Because symptoms often resemble asthma, many patients experience delayed diagnosis and unnecessary treatments. Accurate identification of EILO requires specialized clinical evaluation and a clear understanding of laryngeal function during exercise.

This hands-on/practical focus workshop will provide participants with an up-to-date overview of EILO assessment and diagnosis, integrating current evidence with practical clinical application. Through case examples, imaging demonstrations, and discussion of diagnostic protocols, attendees will gain tools to improve recognition and evaluation of this complex condition.

Learning Objectives
- Describe the pathophysiology and clinical features of EILO
- Differentiate EILO from asthma and other exertional breathing disorders
- Identify key components of patient history and symptom presentation
- Review current diagnostic approaches, including continuous laryngoscopy during exercise (CLE)
- Interpret laryngeal findings and apply evidence-based diagnostic strategies in clinical practice

Speaker

Dr. Rita Patel, PhD, CCC-SLP

Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Indiana University

Dr. Rita Patel is and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Indiana University. She a speech language pathologist with groundbreaking research and clinical expertise in the voice and upper airway, particularly endoscopic laryngeal imaging. She was awarded the title of Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She has received more than 14 research grants from national and international organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Foundation. In

How Can AI Be Used To Power Clinical Speech Assessment?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being increasingly used in a variety of clinical speech applications ranging from pronunciation and articulation assessment to remote patient monitoring to improving efficiency of practice. This workshop will introduce the basics of AI and machine learning (ML) concepts to a clinical audience, using practical examples to illustrate their application to clinical speech assessment, and their advantages and disadvantages.

Speaker

Prof. Vikram Ramanarayanan

Chief Scientific Officer at Modality.AI and an Associate Adjunct Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Prof. Vikram Ramanarayanan is the Chief Scientific Officer at Modality.AI and an Associate Adjunct Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), with additional research affiliation at the SF VA Health Care System. He has 2 decades of interdisciplinary R&D and leadership experience in the areas of speech science, multimodal signal processing, dialog systems, linguistics, neuroscience, and ML, including applied work on remote speech assessment and modeling of neurological and mental health. His work has won 5 Best Paper awards and an Editor's choice award at top international conferences and journals and has resulted in over 200 publications and 14 granted patents. Throughout his career, he has mentored or co-mentored 47 students across various research topics: 4

Clinical Pathways in Cantonese Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Assessment, Planning, and Treatment

This 3-hour preconference workshop provides an in-depth, evidence-based overview of the assessment and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) in Cantonese-speaking children. Grounded in recent research and the recent tutorial, the first part of the workshop focuses on language-specific assessment of CAS in Cantonese, highlighting clinical features, a validated multitask assessment battery, and structured diagnostic decision-making, including differentiation from childhood dysarthria.

The second part of the workshop translates assessment findings into clinical practice by introducing principles of motorbased intervention for CAS and demonstrating how treatment targets, hierarchies, and therapy structure can be tailored to the segmental and suprasegmental characteristics of Cantonese. The workshop is designed for clinicians seeking practical, theory-driven guidance for accurate diagnosis and effective intervention with Cantonese-speaking children with suspected CAS.

Speaker

Prof. Eddy C. H. Wong

Assistant Professor · The University of Hong Kong

Eddy C. H. Wong, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on childhood apraxia of speech, motor speech disorders, and bilingual Cantonese–English speech development. He has developed assessment tools for Cantonese-speaking children and leads studies on cross-linguistic intervention. His work aims to advance evidence-based, culturally responsive practices for multilingual children with speech disorders.

Advancing Chinese Aphasia Care: Contemporary Perspectives, Assessment, and Evidence-Based Strategies

This 3-hour workshop offers a comprehensive exploration of contemporary aphasia care, focusing on recent global advances and their relevance to Chinese-speaking populations. Participants will begin with an update on the latest developments in aphasia research from an international perspective, emphasizing cross-cultural considerations. The session on evidence-based assessment will address current tools and methodologies tailored to the Chinese context, highlighting practical challenges and solutions. A dedicated segment on discourse analysis and the Main Concept Analysis (MCA) certification will provide participants with hands-on experience in applying discourse techniques to aphasia, along with a qualified user certification procedure. The workshop concludes with strategies for translating research into clinical practice, emphasizing how to implement evidence-informed, culturally sensitive interventions within Chinese-speaking communities. Throughout, there will be opportunities for discussion, case studies, and resource sharing to empower clinicians to enhance their assessment and intervention strategies, ultimately advancing personalized and effective aphasia care grounded in current research.

Speaker

Prof. Anthony Pak-Hin Kong

Associate Professor, The University of Hong Kong | ASHA Fellow

Head of Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong and Director of Aphasia Research and Therapy (ART) Laboratory. His research interests include aphasia and related cognitive deficits, assessment and intervention of neurogenic communication disorders, discourse impairments and analysis, gesture production, and bi-/multilingualism.

Ms. Cherie Wong

PhD Candidate · The University of Hong Kong

A final-year PhD Candidate at The University of Hong Kong and a lab member of the Aphasia Research and Therapy (ART) Laboratory. She is a qualified speech-and-language therapist in Hong Kong and has a research focus on the Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP). Her other research interests include aphasia treatment efficacy, tele-therapy, caregiver training, and discourse analysis.

From Character to Word Reading: Metalinguistic Approaches to Reading Intervention and Practical Innovations for Speech Therapists

This workshop introduces two key intervention approaches for fostering reading skills in school-age children with reading difficulties: the Accelerating Reading Ability (ARA) Program and the modified Accelerating Morphological Awareness (mAMA) Program. Both approaches focus on enhancing different aspects of metalinguistic awareness to support reading development.

The workshop begins by presenting the theoretical foundations underlying these programs. The ARA program emphasizes developing phonological awareness, particularly the recognition and manipulation of radicals in Chinese characters. It also highlights the application of reading strategies, including understanding regularity and consistency in reading Chinese characters. Building on the foundation of character reading, the mAMA program focuses on building skills in decoding and encoding words by enhancing morphemic awareness and morphosyntactic understanding. The program also explores homophonic awareness, which helps children distinguish between homophones in Chinese.

Following the theoretical overview, participants will have the opportunity to learn practical implementation strategies and receive tips for integrating these approaches into clinical practice.

Additionally, in response to emerging trends and the increasing role of technology in speech therapy, the workshop will demonstrate how generative AI can be used to prepare customized training materials, providing participants with innovative tools for their therapy sessions.

Speaker

Dr. Dustin Kai-Yan Lau

Associate Professor · The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Associate Professor of the Department of Language Science and Technology, Faculty of Humanities, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has worked as a speech therapist and clinical instructor in a variety of settings that equipped him with frontline experience working with clients with different communication disorders. His research interests lie mainly in psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics. He is also interested in developing clinical assessment and evidence-based treatment for different communication disorders in Chinese.

Dr. Tang Po-Yi, Tempo

Lecturer · The University of Hong Kong

Currently a lecturer in the Unit of Human, Communication, Learning, and Development, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong. She also serves as a consultant speech therapist at Joyance Community Health Consultant Ltd. With extensive experience working with children with reading and writing difficulties, Dr Tang has developed dyslexia treatment programs and delivered seminars and workshops for professionals.