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Rachel Ellis

Senior Associate Professor

Communication is a complex process involving many different skills. The focus of my research is on investigating factors that influence communication, particularly in older people with hearing loss.

Which factors are involved in successful communication?

In order to accurately communicate via speech, we must first be able to recognise the words that we hear. To do this we know that the brain and the ears need to work together, however, we do not yet understand precisely which processes are involved. 

My primary research interest is in investigating the cognitive abilities (such as working memory or executive functions) involved in speech perception. However, I am also interested in exploring the interactive nature of communication. I am particularly interested in how ageing and hearing loss affect these processes.

Generally speaking, my research interests can be loosely divided into three categories:

Cognition and speech perception: working memory; executive functions; proactive interference; development of novel tests; semantic versus phonological cues; top-down versus bottom-up processing; ageing; hearing loss; hearing aid benefit; signal processing; listening effort; acclimatisation.

Novel technology and communication difficulties: hearing aid benefit; signal processing; online screening; ageing; signal processing; hearing loss.

Interaction in communication: ageing; hearing loss; accommodation; turn-taking; stigmatization; hearing aids.

Publications

2024

Rachel Ellis, Jerker Rönnberg, Charlotta Plejert (2024) Combined effects of age and hearing impairment on utterances and requests for clarification in spontaneous conversation and a referential communication task International journal of language and communication disorders, Vol. 59, p. 293-303 Continue to DOI

2023

Victoria Stenbäck, Erik Marsja, Rachel J. Ellis, Jerker Rönnberg (2023) Relationships between behavioural and self-report measures in speech recognition in noise International Journal of Audiology, Vol. 62, p. 101-109 Continue to DOI

2022

Rachel Ellis, Jerker Rönnberg (2022) Temporal fine structure: associations with cognition and speech-in-noise recognition in adults with normal hearing or hearing impairment International Journal of Audiology, Vol. 61, p. 778-786 Continue to DOI
Rachel Ellis, Jerker Rönnberg (2022) Temporal fine structure: relations to cognition and aided speech recognition International Journal of Audiology, Vol. 61, p. 473-481 Continue to DOI

2020

Michaela Socher, Rachel J. Ellis, Malin Wass, Björn Lyxell (2020) Comparison of Expressive Spoken Language Skills in Children With Cochlear Implants and Children With Typical Hearing Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 11 Continue to DOI

Organisation

Women listening trying to hear

Disability Research Division (FUSA)

We do research on various disabilities, where we measure and compare the impact and degree of disability. The focus is on cognition and communication.
University park behind house I.

Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (IBL)

Human behaviour and learning is the focus for education and research at the department. We educate students and scientists that are well equipped to meet future challenges in society and working life.

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