Recorded Webinar - Adult Communication SIG - Lunch & Learn - 3rd September 2026

Dear SIG members,

We are delighted to invite you to our next Adult Communication SIG Lunch & Learn on Thursday 3rd September, from 13:00-13:45.

Join us for Cognitive Communication Disorder: Updates from Irish SLT Clinician-Researchers, with Áine Hughes and Orla Joyce sharing their respective Masters research exploring cognitive communication.

Both Irish SLTs who have undertaken their research through City St George’s, University of London, Áine and Orla will discuss their research and its implications for practice, with an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Áine Hughes - Áine Hughes is an Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, working in Stroke, Trauma and Neurorehabilitation. She was also a National Institute for Health and Care Research Pre Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellow 2024-2025.

She has over fourteen years of experience in acquired brain injury across acute, inpatient, and community neurorehabilitation settings, specialising in complex communication and swallowing disorders following stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Áine recently completed a Master’s in Clinical Research at City St George’s, University of London, receiving a distinction for her dissertation. Her work focused on smart device interventions to support functional communication in adults with acquired brain injury. She led focus groups with speech and language therapists, developed and registered a PROSPERO protocol for a systematic review, and is preparing these manuscripts for submission. Her clinical academic interests centre on how smart devices are used to support functional communication in neurorehabilitation.

Áine recently presented at the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation NR SIG in Belfast and the Cambridge Nursing, Allied Health Professional Conference 2026.

Orla Joyce - Orla is a Senior Speech and Language Therapist working in Adult Community Services, West Mayo Primary Care. She has over eleven years of clinical experience across acute, inpatient neurorehabilitation and community settings in Ireland and the UK. Her clinical and research interests include acquired brain injury, cognitive-communication disorders and implementation science.

Orla completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Galway and recently completed an MSc in Speech, Language and Communication (Advanced Studies) at City St George’s, University of London. Her MSc research formed part of the NIHR-funded TANGO research project, led by Dr Nicholas Behn. TANGO aims to adapt existing communication partner training programmes, in collaboration with people with brain injury, their families and carers, and speech and language therapists, to support their implementation within healthcare settings. Orla recently presented this research at the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation NR-SIG meeting in Belfast and at the TANGO Dissemination Day at City St George’s.