Dr. Megan Overby, an Associate Professor at Duquesne University, specializes in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), speech sound disorders, literacy, and telepractice. She has over 20 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist in schools, hospitals, agencies, and university clinics in addition to having maintained a private practice. Dr. Overby’s research in CAS has focused on potential early red flags of the disorder, its social consequences, and associations between CAS and literacy development. In addition, she was the primary investigator in a grant-funded study of the home language environment of young children with CAS. She presents regularly at conferences and workshops on assessment and literacy topics related to CAS and has published her research in multiple journals and textbook chapters. At Duquesne, Dr. Overby teaches courses in speech sound development and assessment.

Although I had a passing interest in CAS since graduate school and studied it further while getting my doctorate, I became particularly interested in CAS in 2004 when working with a toddler with an early diagnosis of the disorder. She demonstrated many of the reported signs and was extremely frustrated by her inability to communicate effectively. She improved with the motor programming approach we used at the clinic but our progress was hampered by a well-meaning private clinician who used articulation strategies in therapy. Working with this reluctant clinician made me realize how important it was that clinicians received good clinical education about CAS and I resolved to be a better clinician and educator. This started me on a research path that I have enjoyed since.

Being a part of Apraxia Kids has given me the opportunity to support the organization’s mission in providing parents with resources about the disorder. Parents of a child with a communication disorder such as CAS can find looking for resources to be lonely and frightening at times. It takes persistence and courage to find the right clinician and therapy. For me, it’s an honor to be a part of an organization that can lend a hand to parents and clinicians looking for information. Perhaps, in due course, more clinicians will access information offered by Apraxia Kids and there will be fewer clinicians who provide articulation therapy to children with CAS.

When I’m not researching or writing, I enjoy being with my large family – four children and nine grandchildren. We have two cats who make my husband and me feel very guilty when we leave to visit family or travel for fun. This year, our travels include a family reunion in Maine.