Margaret Walshe

Assistant Professor in Speech & Language Pathology

Research Interests

My research interests include assessment and intervention in acquired motor speech disorders, neurological dysphagia and evidence based practice. Current research involves measuring the psychosocial impact of dysarthria on the speaker. Research interests also incorporate dysphagia assessment and intervention in the upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction. Other research activity includes a Cochrane Review on the management of drooling in children with cerebral palsy and the completion of two other Cochrane Review protocols on the treatment of neurological UES dysfunction and on the effects of oral stimulation for feeding in preterm infants.

Selected Publications

Book Chapters

• Regan, J & Walshe M. (2012) Neuromuscular Conditions. In RD Newman & J Nightingale (eds) Videofluoroscopy - A Multidisciplinary Approach, San Diego, Plural Publishing.
• Walshe, M. (2010).  The Psychosocial Impact of Acquired Motor Speech Disorders. In A Lowit & R Kent (eds) Assessment of Motor Speech Disorders, San Diego, Plural Publishing.
Journal articles

• Regan J, Walshe M, Rommel N, McMahon B. A new evaluation of the upper esophageal sphincter using the functional lumen imaging probe: - A preliminary report. Diseases of the Esophagus (in press).
• Walshe M, Smith M, Pennington L. Interventions for drooling in children with cerebral palsy., Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online), 2, 2012, pCD008624
• Walshe M, Miller N. Living with Acquired Dysarthria: The speaker's perspective, Disability and Rehabilitation, 33, (3), 2011, p195 - 203
• Sdravou K, Walshe M, Dagdilelis L, Effects of carbonated liquids on oropharyngeal swallowing measures in people with neurogenic dysphagia, Dysphagia, Published online August 2011
• Regan J, Walshe M, McMahon B, Current Evaluation of Upper Oesophageal Sphincter Opening in Dysphagia Practice: An International SLT Survey. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, Published Online August 2011
• Miller N, Andrew S, Noble E, Walshe M, Changing perceptions of self as a communicator in Parkinson's Disease: a longitudinal follow-up study, Disability and Rehabilitation, 33, (3), 2011, p204 - 210
• Walshe M, Peach R, Miller N. The Dysarthria Impact Profile: Validation of an instrument to measure psychosocial impact in dysarthria.  International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 44, (5), 2009, p693 – 715.
• Regan J, Walshe M, Tobin WO , Immediate Effects of Thermal-Tactile Stimulation on Timing of Swallow in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease. Dysphagia, 25, (3), 2010, p207 - 215

Teaching/Supervision

My teaching responsibilities at undergraduate and postgraduate level are in the area of dysphagia, evidence based practice and motor speech disorders. I coordinate the Taught M.Sc programme in Clinical Speech and Language Studies as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical speech and Language Studies (Dysphagia).
I am involved in the supervision of a number of postgraduate projects at M.Sc and PhD level. These projects include examining the effects of carbonation on swallowing in neurological dysphagia, exploring the strategies used by people with dysphagia and Parkinson’s disease in taking medication, examining the risk factors for feeding and swallowing difficulties in premature babies and examining potential biomarkers for dysphagia in people with multiple sclerosis.

Margaret Walshe on the TCD Research Support System

Contact Details

Clinical Speech and Language Studies
Room No 1.07
Trinity College
7 - 9 South Leinster Street
Dublin 2

Telephone: +353 1 896 2382
Fax: +353 1 232 1005
Email: walshema@tcd.ie