Dr. V.H. Savitha

Dr. V.H. Savitha

Professor
Area: Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur campus.

Email ID: savithah@srmist.edu.in

Other Details:

Course

• Structural anomalies and speech production, Speech language pathology, Linguistics, Clinical linguistics, Speech language processing.

Research Interests

• Cleft lip and palate, typical language development, childhood communication disorders

Selected Publications

• Hariharan, S. V., Raghunathan, V., Sreedevi, N., & Ramanan, P. V. (2018). Production of early words in Tamil speaking children with repaired cleft lip and palate. Language in India, 18(3), 462-475.
• Hariharan, S. V., Raghunathan, V., Sreedevi, N., & Ramanan, P. V. (2017). Expressive language and vocabulary development of Tamil speaking children with repaired cleft lip and palate. Language in India, 17(11), 270-286.
• Thomas, B., Subramaniyan, B., Savitha, V. H., & Nagarajan, R. (2017). Acoustic analysis of glottal stops in Tamil-speaking children with cleft lip and palate. Language in India, 17(2), 455 - 467.
• Antony, R. M., Nagarajan, R., Hariharan, S. V., & Balasubramaniyan, S. (2016). Development and validation of a resource material on principles of speech therapy for individuals with cleft lip and palate: A short video film in Tamil. Journal of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, 3(1), 14-22.
• Devi, R. S., Nagarajan, R., Savitha, V. H., & Venkatesh, L. (2016). A self-learning module for students of speech-language pathology in phonetic transcription of Tamil. Journal of Indian Speech Language & Hearing Association, 30(1), 17 - 26.
• Ganesh, P., Murthy, J., Ulaghanathan, N., & Savitha, V. H. (2015). A randomized controlled trial comparing two techniques for unilateral cleft lip and palate: growth and speech outcomes during mixed dentition. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, 43(6), 790-795.
• Savitha, V.H., Boominathan, P., & Svetha, V. (2011). Characterization and genetic model fitting in Tamil speaking individuals with stuttering. Journal of Indian Speech Language and Hearing Association, 25(1), 9 - 20.
• Sivapriya, S., Perumal, R. C., & Savitha, V. H. (2009). Profile of phonological processes in Tamil speaking children with cleft lip and palate. Journal of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, 2(2), 44-49.
• Nagarajan, R., Savitha, V. H., & Subramaniyan, B. (2009). Communication disorders in individuals with cleft lip and palate: An overview. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery: Official Publication of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India, 42(Suppl), S137 - 143.
• Savitha, V.H., Balakrishnan, L.N., Subha, S., & Shumitha, J. (2008). Fluency profile in Tamil speaking individuals with Downs syndrome – A preliminary study. Journal of Indian Speech and Hearing Association, 22(2), 95.

Papers Presented

• “Speech sound development in children with cleft lip and palate” at the 17th Annual Convention of the Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies, held at Kolkata, in March 2018.
• “Speech sounds during vocalisation in children with repaired cleft lip and palate”, poster presented at the International Cleft Congress 2017 at Mahabalipuram in February 2017.
• “Language and Vocabulary Development in Children with Repaired Cleft Lip and Palate: A Case Control Study” at the 14th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial anomalies, held at Goa, India, in May 2015.
• “Specialized training for speech pathologists in cleft lip and palate: Scaling up speech services in Cleft teams in India”, at the 12th International Confederation on Cleft Lip and Palate, held at Orlando, USA in May 2013.
• “Controlled speech stimuli – word list in Tamil and Malayalam for assessment of articulation in individuals with cleft lip and palate”, at the 12th International Confederation on Cleft Lip and Palate, held at Orlando, USA in May 2013.
• “Early language development and phonetic repertoire in children with unrepaired cleft of palate: A preliminary investigation”, poster presented at the 12th International Confederation on Cleft Lip and Palate, held at Orlando, USA in May 2013.
• “Specialized training in cleft lip & palate for speech pathologists: Impact on service delivery in India” held at “11th International Confederation on Cleft Lip & Palate and related Craniofacial Anomalies” held at Fortaleza, Brazil, September 2009.
• “Velopharyngeal movements in Malayalam speakers – A preliminary investigation”, at 8th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial anomalies, Pondicherry, India, in February 2009.
• “Multidisciplinary approach in Cancrum Oris – A case report”, a poster presentation at 8th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial anomalies, Pondicherry, India, in February 2009.
• “Characterization of stuttering and genetic model fitting based on pedigree analysis”, at the 41st Annual Convention of Indian Speech and Hearing Association held at Pune, India, in January 2009.
• “Speech and language profile in Tamil speaking individuals with cleft lip and palate” at the 6th Asian Pacific Cleft Lip and Palate Congress held at Goa in September 2007.
• “Rate of Speech and Perception of Nasality: An Analysis in Individuals with Repaired Cleft Lip & Palate”, 3rd Annual Meeting and International Update – Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, Chandigarh, Feb. 2004.

Working Papers

• With Priyanka Nair, “Development of gestures and early words in typically developing children learning Tamil language”, 2019

Work in Progress

• With Shailaja, Y., “Awareness of students of health sciences about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their attitudes towards users of AAC”

Academic Experiences

• Visiting Faculty, Naseema Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bangalore, India, 2015 – 2018.
• Reader, Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India, 2009 – 2015.
• Assistant Professor, Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India, 2007 – 2009.
• Lecturer, Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India, 2003 – 2007.
• Tutor Level – II, Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University), Chennai, India, 2003.

Other Professional Experiences

• Consultant and Speech Advisor, Smile Train India, 2015 – till date
• Volunteer Speech Language Pathologist, International Cleft care project, Vietnam (https://www.internationalcleftcareproject.org), 2016 – till date.
• Member, Taskforce of International Confederation for Cleft Lip and Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies on ‘Palatoplasty in the speaking individual with unrepaired cleft palate (Report: https://doi.org/10.1597/14-124)
• Member of Taskforce of International Confederation for Cleft Lip and Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies on ‘Beyond Eurocleft’ (Report available in https://doi.org/10.1597/14-120)

Workshops, Conferences and Seminars

• 13th World Congress of International Cleft Palate Federation and the 59th Annual Meeting of Japan Teratology Society, Kyoto, Japan, July 2019.
• 18th Annual Meeting of Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies, Varanasi, India, February 2019.
• Advanced Workshops in Balance, Hearing & Speech - Language Specialties, Dubai Otology 2018, Dubai, November 2018.
• 2018 Convention of American Speech and Hearing Association, Boston, November 2018.
• 17th Annual Convention of Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies, Kolkatta, India, April 2018. 

Achievements and Awards

• B.M. Abrol’s award for best paper in speech for the scientific paper titled “Characterization of stuttering and genetic model fitting based on pedigree analysis”, at the 41st Annual Convention of Indian Speech and Hearing Association held at Pune, India, in January 2009.

Memberships

• Indian Speech and Hearing Association, 2003
• Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies, 2005
• Tamilnadu chapter of Indian Speech and Hearing Association, 2012