Center for Pediatric Auditory & Speech Sciences
- About Us
- Our Research
- Research Impact
Enhancing Communication & Connection for Children
The Center for Pediatric Auditory & Speech Sciences (CPASS) at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Children’s advances research that helps children communicate and connect in everyday life. Based in the Delaware Valley, our center brings together expertise in speech, language, and hearing science to address communication challenges that shape development and learning.
CPASS focuses on translational research that links scientific discovery to care. We study how children produce speech and how they perceive sound. This work helps explain why communication develops differently across childhood and guides more effective ways to support it over time.
Technology plays an important role in our work. Research findings inform diagnosis and monitoring, then support the development of tools used in care and education. These efforts help clinicians, educators, and families respond more effectively to speech and hearing differences.
CPASS has a long-standing presence at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, with research that has evolved over decades alongside advances in pediatric care. The center also contributes to community-facing efforts, including infant auditory screening and education partnerships, while working closely with clinical teams to ensure research informs care in ways that matter to children and families.
Advancing Pediatric Speech & Hearing ResearchÌý
Research at the Center for Pediatric Auditory & Speech Sciences strengthens how communication differences are understood and addressed in children. Our work reflects innovative contributions to the field.
20+
Years of research leadership in pediatric speech and hearing sciences
4,000+
Personal synthetic voices created through voice banking research
GlobalÌýÌý
Speech and dysarthria resources used and cited worldwide
WeÌýlead the development of communication technologiesÌýthat help children preserve identity and express themselves.
Our teamÌýapplies data science and machine learning to improve how speech and hearing differences are measuredÌýacross childhood.
We work toÌýtranslate research into tools that move beyond the labÌýand into real-world use.
OurÌýresearchersÌýbuild partnerships that extend our reach and ability to make a differenceÌýin the lives of children everywhere.Ìý
Our Leadership
H. Timothy Bunnell, PhD
Director, Center for Pediatric Auditory & Speech Sciences
Principal Research Scientist
Research Team
Join Us
Helping Children Communicate, Learn & Thrive
Our research spans the continuum from basic science to applied technology. Our work focuses on communication differences in children and approaches that support assessment, treatment, and daily communication.
Focus Areas
Our research spans key focus areas:
Improving Speech Outcomes: Cleft Lip and Palate Research
We study how children with cleft lip and palate develop speech over time. By refining instrumental methods to measure outcomes, our work helps clinicians evaluate progress and guide care more precisely.
Understanding Speech Differences: Pediatric Speech Disorders Research
We examine how children produce and perceive speech across a range of developmental and neurological conditions. These insights improve how speech differences are identified and supported throughout childhood. Learn more.
Advancing Communication Tools: Assistive Speech Technology Research
We develop speech synthesis and voice banking tools for children who rely on assistive communication. This research supports meaningful expression across daily settings.
Research Themes
Our research is guided by shared priorities that shape every project:
- From data to understanding.ÌýUsing data science and machine learning to reveal patterns in speech and hearing that improve assessment and care.
- Designed for application. Conducting research with a clear path to clinical and educational use.
- Child-centered outcomes. Focusing on communication, participation, and quality of life for children and families.
Related Research & Clinical Focus
Researchers at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ often align with multiple research areas, affiliated labs, and clinical programs to support discovery and care systemwide.
Assistive Technology
CLINICAL CARE
Supportive technologies and services that help children with communication and mobility needs participate more fully in daily life.
Audiology & Hearing
CLINICAL CARE
Complete evaluation and care for children with hearing loss and auditory processing differences, by ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ pediatric audiology specialists.
Behavioral Health Research
RESEARCH AREA
We develop models and tools that support children’s emotional health through evidence-based care, digital interventions, and family-centered strategies.
Speech & Language Therapy
CLINICAL CARE
Pediatric speech-language pathologists offer assessment and therapy for kids with speech, language, and communication challenges.
Speech Research Laboratory
DELAWARE VALLEY
Researchers in our lab develop advanced speech technology to improve diagnosis, treatment, and correction of pediatric communication disorders.
Voice Program
CLINICAL CARE
Specialized care for children with voice disorders, combining clinical expertise and advanced evaluation in the Delaware Valley.
How We Make a Difference
CPASS research has shaped how pediatric speech and hearing differences are studied, measured, and supported over time. This work has influenced research and broader practice.
Notable impacts include:
- Developed personalized synthetic voices for children and adults who rely on speech-generating devices, helping preserve identity and support meaningful communication.
- Created widely used speech and dysarthria databases that support research worldwide and improve speech recognition for individuals with motor speech disorders.
- Advanced instrumental methods for tracking speech outcomes in children with cleft lip and palate, supporting more precise evaluation and evidence-based care.
- Applied data science and machine learning to reveal patterns in pediatric speech and hearing that are difficult to detect using traditional approaches.
- Translated research into tools designed for real-world use, extending impact beyond the lab into clinical and educational settings.
Research Collaboration
Collaboration supports the longevity and reach of our research.
Publications
ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ researchers constantly contribute to advancing scientific understanding. We share our knowledge, insights and discoveries to encourage collaboration and inspire further research.
Grants & Funding
Our research has been supported by competitive funding from national agencies over time. These awards have enabled long-term investigation and the development of tools and resources used across the field. Select grants include:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program R41 Grant | Next-Generation Expressive Personalized Voices for Speech-Generating Devices (2019-2021) | Bunnell, H.T. (MPI)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant | Use of Speech Recognition Technology for Functional Hearing Assessment (2008-2009) | Pal, A. (PI)
R21 Grant | Phenotypes and Familiality in Speech Disorders (2005-2008) | Bunnell, H.T. (PI)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Compounding Dividends on Voice Banking (2019-2022) | Bunnell, H.T. (PI)
Understanding Prosody and Tone Interactions through Documentation of Endangered Languages (2014-2017) | Dicanio, C. (PI)
Modeling Acoustic and Articulatory Features for Hybrid Synthesis (2011-2013) | Patel, R. (PI)
Adapting Text-to-Speech Synthesis to Convey User Identity (2007-2010) | Patel, R. (PI)