Dr Ruth Herbert, BA, PGdip, MSc, PhD.

Department of Human Communication Sciences
The University of Sheffield
31 Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA
UK



Tel: +44 (0) 114 222 2403
Fax: +44 (0) 114 273 0547

email : r.herbert@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

After completing a degree in French I trained as a speech and language therapist at City University in London. I then worked in the London area in a number of clinical posts, specialising throughout in acquired aphasia. I started lecturing in 1994 at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and took a masters degree in Human Communication at UCL in 1998. Since then I have primarily been involved in research into acquired aphasia, specifically in word finding deficits and the evaluation of intervention. This research formed the basis of my PhD thesis.
I am currently a senior lecturer and post-graduate research tutor in the Department of Human Communication Sciences.

My research interests centre on aphasia. I have worked for some time investigating the nature of the deficit in anomia, and have devised novel assessment and therapy methods, including one therapy software program STAR (Sheffield Therapy for Anomia Rehabilitation).

Research interests

• Acquired aphasia.
• Word finding deficits.
• Syntactic deficits in anomia
• Semantic processing in acquired aphasia
• Therapy for word finding.
• Evaluating change across different functional contexts.
• Collaborative research in aphasia: NHS and academic.
• Establishing effective communication systems in aphasia.

Professional activities

Chair of the British Aphasiology Society 2005-2008.
Member of the Stroke Association Research Awards Committee.

Current projects

• Syntactic cues: effectiveness with healthy speakers and people with aphasia. With Emma Gregory and Professor Rosemary Varley. Project funded by the Stroke Association. Research Bursary: £90,000.
• Therapy software for anomia rehabilitation: STAR. Project funded by Yorkshire concept Proof of Commercial Concept Fund. £32,225.
• Developing evidence based guidelines and resources to support the production of accessible information for people affected by aphasia. Project funded by the Stroke Association. £34,812.
• Analysis of aphasic language from a construction grammar perspective. Faculty studentship awarded to Rachel Hatchard, 2010-2012.

Collaborators

Postgraduate students:

• Lisa Clarkson
• Emma Gregory
• Rachel Hatchard

External collaborators

• Jane Morgan, Sheffield Hallam University.
• David Howard, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
• Tariq Khwaileh, University of Qatar.

Key publications

1. Herbert, R. & Best, W. (2010). The role of noun syntax in spoken word production: Evidence from aphasia. Cortex, 46, 329-342.
2. Herbert, R., Hickin, J., Best, W., Howard, D. & Osborne, F. (2009). Do picture naming tests provide a valid assessment of everyday functional lexical retrieval? Aphasiology, 22/2, 184-203.
3. Hickin, J., Herbert, R., Best, W., Howard, D. & Osborne, F. (2006). Efficacy of treatment: Effects on word retrieval and conversation. In Aphasia Therapy File (Vol. II), S. Byng, K. Swinburn & C. Pound (Eds.), (69-82). Hove UK: Psychology Press.
4. Best, W., Schroder, A., Herbert, R. (2006). An investigation of a relative impairment in naming non-living items: theoretical and methodological implications. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 19, 96-123.
5. Herbert, R., Best, W., Hickin, J., Howard, D. & Osborne, F. (2003). Combining lexical and interactional approaches to therapy for word finding deficits in aphasia. Aphasiology, 17, 1163-1186.
6. Best, W., Herbert, R., Hickin, J., Howard, D. & Osborne, F. (2002). Phonological and orthographic facilitation of word retrieval in aphasia: short and long term effects. Aphasiology, 16, 1/2, 151-168.

25 January 2012