Ellen Hickey

Bio

Dr. Ellen Hickey (PhD Seattle, Washington) is an associate professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Dalhousie University. She is a practicing speech-language pathologist, licensed by Nova Scotia College of Audiology and Speech-Language pathology, and certified by Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Her research and teaching are in three areas: global health and decolonization; interprofessional education and care; and neurological communication disorders. Dr. Hickey’s publications and presentations have focused upon a variety of subtopics in these areas, including: development of speech-language pathology services in the Majority World, ethical issues in volunteerism/voluntourism, and the future of the professions; interprofessional education and practice in stroke and long-term care; participation and quality of life as well as treatment of persons with aphasia, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and motor speech disorders.

Between 2009-2014, Dr. Hickey was involved in training local staff and families to facilitate communication participation and quality of life for persons with neurological communication disorders in several Majority World countries. She has worked in Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, and Belize. She is particularly concerned with ethical issues in “voluntourism” or volunteerism and with the development of speech-language pathology services in under-serviced countries and communities. She is also concerned with equity of services and decolonization of the professions.

Dr. Hickey serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals, such as the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, the Canadian Journal of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, Aphasiology, the Journal of Communication Disorders, and the Journal of Critical Studies in Communication & Disability. She has also served on the board of directors for a few local non-profit organizations, including Rannoch House (group home for persons with acquired brain injuries), the Aphasia Nova Scotia, and the Women’s Health Organization International. 

Please note: Dr. Hickey is not able to take PhD students at this time.

Education

• BSc, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, SUNY Geneseo
• MA, Speech-Language Pathology, University of Pittsburgh
• PhD, Speech Language Pathology, University of Washington

Teaching

• CMSD 6460: Treatment of Neurogenic Language and Cognitive Disorders – Adult
• Clinical Education
• Interprofessional Education

Research interests

• Aphasia & cognitive-communication disorders from dementia or traumatic brain injury
• Motor speech disorders
• Treatment efficacy/outcomes
• Communication activities and participation, and quality of life
• Global health & decolonization of audiology & speech-language pathology
• Ethics of voluntourism/volunteerism in the Majority World
• Telepractice

Professional associations/affiliations

• Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC)
• Nova Scotia College of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• ASHA Special Interest Group: Neurogenics and Neurophysiology
• ASHA Special Interest Group: Global Issues in Communication Disorders and Sciences
• Aphasia Access
• Aphasia Nova Scotia
• Special Interest Group for Decolonization in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology

Selected publications

Global Health, Equity, & Decolonization

• Staley, B., Hickey, E., Gibson, R., Rochus, D., Nafukho, M. (2023). Obulala Na-maani: Unity is Strength. In: Lüdtke, U.M., Kija, E., Karia, M.K. (Eds.) Handbook of Speech-Language Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp. 197-211. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04504-2_10.
• Staley, B., Fernandes, M., Hickey, E., Barrett, H., Wylie, K., Marshall, J., Pillay, M., Kathard, H., Sowden, R., Rochus, D., Westby, C.E., Roman, T.R., & Hartley, S.D. (2022). Stitching a new garment: Considering the future of the speech-language therapy profession globally. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 69(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4102/sajcd.v69i1.932.
• Staley, B., Hickey, E., Rochus, D., Musasizi, D., & Gibson, R. (2021). Successes and challenges of speech language therapy service provision in Western Kenya: Three case studies. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 68(1), 1-9.
• Staley, B., Hickey, E.M., Rule, D., Barrett, H., Salter, C., Gibson, R., & Rochus, D. (2020). Speech language pathology and ethical practice in global contexts. International Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 23(1), 15-25. DOI: 10.1080/17549507.2020.1743358
• Hallowell, B., & Hickey, E. (2014). How to help – not harm – underserved populations abroad. The ASHA Leader, https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.OV1.20052015.24
• Hickey, E.M., Archibald, C., McKenna, M., & Woods, C. (2012). Ethical concerns in voluntourism in speech-language pathology & audiology. Perspectives in Global Issues in Communication Sciences & Related Disorders, 2(2), 40-48. 

Interprofessional Education

• MacKenzie, D.L., Neyedli, H.F., Westwood, D.A., Creaser, G., Sponagle, K., Hickey, E., Merritt, B.K., Miller, S.G., Gubitz, G., Dithurbide, L., & Picketts, L. (2019). Looking to collaborate: using mobile eye-trackers to explore interprofessional collaboration features in stroke care simulations. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(7), 101.
• Lauckner, H., Nickerson-Rak, C., Hickey, E.M., & Isenor, J.E., Godden-Webster, A.L. (2018). Interprofessional and collaborative care planning activities for students and staff within an academic nursing home. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 13, 1-4.
• MacKenzie, D, Creaser, G., Sponagle, K. Gubitz, G., Blacquiere, D., Miller, S., Hebert, K., & Hickey, E. (2018). Interprofessional stroke care simulations: Facilitating best practice knowledge, skills & collaboration. International Journal of Stroke, 13, 46.

Neurological Communication Disorders

Books:

• Hickey, E.M., & Douglas, N.F. (2021). Person-centered memory & communication interventions for dementia: A case study approach. Plural Publishing.  https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publications/person-centered-memory-and-communication-interventions-for-dementia-a-case-study-approach

• Hickey, E.M., & Bourgeois, M.S. (Eds.) (2018). Dementia: Person-centered assessment & intervention, 2^nd ed. Routledge.  https://www.routledge.com/Dementia-Person-Centered-Assessment-and-Intervention/Bourgeois-Hickey/p/book/9781138859913?gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7GnBhDXARIsAFLvH4nzKeUSunskI6hud-FJW5qU2CPjRgstIY2UYI4BYPYGUJxzRGiTXxgaAih9EALw_wcB

Articles:

• Hickey, E.M., Matchett, A., Ray, N., Almond, M., & Hardy, J. (2018). Effectiveness and social validity of voice therapy for an adolescent with athetoid cerebral palsy. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 3(2), 44-50.
• Douglas, N.F., & Hickey, E. (2015). Creating positive environments in skilled nursing facilities to support best practice implementation: An overview and practical suggestions. Seminars in Speech & Language, 36(3): 167-178.
• Hopper, T., Bourgeois, M., Pimentel, J., Qualls, C., Hickey, E., Frymark, T., & Schooling, T. (2014). An evidence-based systematic review on cognitive interventions for individuals with dementia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, 22(1), 126-145.
• Kagan, A., Bayley, M., Simmons-Mackie, N., Rochon, E., Cook, S., Gibson, J.B., Hickey, E., Kelloway, L., LeDorze, G., Purves, B., & Worrall, L. (2014). Stroke and aphasia best practice: A Canadian KTE Collaboration. Canadian Stroke Abstracts, Stroke, 45(12), E290.
• Kagan, A., Bayley, M., LeDorze, G., Cook, S., Garcia, L., Gibson, B.J., Hickey, E., Kelloway, L., Purves, B., Rochon, E., Simmons-Mackie, N., & Worrall, L. (2013). Moving forward on best practices for stroke and aphasia: a Canadian KTE initiative. Canadian Stroke Abstracts, Stroke, 44(12), E224. 
• Hickey, E.M., & Saunders, J.S. (2010). Evaluation of a strength-based rehabilitation program for adolescents with chronic acquired brain injuries. Perspectives in Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Communication Disorders, December.