Current Projects

Our work focuses on improving outcomes for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that is common after stroke. Many of our projects focus on the topic of inner speech, which is often defined as a “little voice” in one’s head. People with aphasia often report that what they can say out loud does not fully capture what they can say or hear in their head. One of our primary goals is to understand this discrepancy and to use it to improve outcomes in aphasia.

  • This project is examining the relationship between inner speech (the little voice in your head) and treatment for word finding difficulties. We are recruiting now - see below!

  • We partnered with the Stroke Comeback Center to examine the unique experiences of people with aphasia during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out our paper in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and stay tuned for a follow-up, which we recently submitted to the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

  • We are working with the Cognitive Recovery Lab to examine how inner speech supports other cognitive functions, including executive function (for example, decision-making, task-switching, resolving conflict) in people with aphasia. Dr. Fama recently presented results from this work at the 60th annual Academy of Aphasia meeting in Oct. 2022 and at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference in June 2023. Stay tuned for the paper, which was recently submitted to the journal Neuropsychologia.

  • In this project, we are examining the ways in which adults (including adults with aphasia) use inner speech in their everyday lives.

  • We are also interested in a few other topic areas, including mental health and cultural and linguistic diversity among individuals with aphasia. Stay tuned for updates on these projects!

Want to get involved?

Are you interested in participating in one of our research studies or learning more about what we do? Please use this form to contact us or reach out using the information below.

famalab@gwu.edu
(202) 994-0724

Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences The George Washington University

Our Collaborators

  • The Stroke Comeback Center is a nonprofit organization that provides support to the community of survivors of stroke and other brain injury. Check out their website to learn more!

  • Dr. Fama completed her dissertation research in the Cognitive Recovery Lab at Georgetown University Medical Center, directed by Dr. Peter Turkeltaub.