Dr. Ciaran Kenny
Assistant Professor, Clin Speech & Language Studies
Biography
Completed B.Sc. in Applied Computational Linguistics in Dublin City University (2002). Specialised in computer voice synthesis. Worked for 5 years as a senior software developer. Areas of expertise were front-end delivery of e-learning and media content.
Completed M.Sc. in Speech and Language Therapy (2009) in University of Limerick. Went on to work as senior speech and language therapist in Tallaght Hospital for 6 years. Areas of clinical specialism were dysphagia and voice disorders, especially in critical care and ENT populations.
Secured funded fellowship from The Atlantic Philanthropies and Trinity College Dublin to pursue PhD from 2016 to 2019. PhD title was 'Dysphagia in adults with solid malignancies outside the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract'. As part of this, completed systematic review of dysphagia screening, evaluation, and quality of life tools for this clinical population. Conducted pilot study to investigate the feasibility of measuring intra-oral pressure measurements in a lung cancer population. Primary study was a large-scale epidemiological study to describe the prevalence, predictors, clinical characteristics, and impact of dysphagia in adults with malignancies in non-swallow anatomical regions. Presented findings at international and national conferences, as well as peer-reviewed journals.
Appointed as Assistant Professor in Dept of Clinical Speech and Language Studies in Trinity College Dublin in September 2018. Coordinator and lecturer for the postgraduate programme.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Gerosa M, Kenny C, The Effects of Vocal Loading and Steam Inhalation on Acoustic, Aerodynamic and Vocal Tract Discomfort Measures in Adults, Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation, 2022
Kenny, C. and Regan, J. and Balding, L. and Higgins, S. and O'Leary, N. and Kelleher, F. and McDermott, R. and Armstrong, J. and Mihai, A. and Tiernan, E. and Westrup, J. and Thirion, P. and Walsh, D., Dysphagia in Solid Tumors Outside the Head, Neck or Upper GI Tract: Clinical Characteristics, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2022
Georgalas VL, Kalantzi N, Harpur I, Kenny C., The Effects of Caffeine on Voice: A Systematic Review., Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation, 2021
Kenny, C, Dysphonia and Vocal Tract Discomfort While Working From Home During COVID-19, Journal of Voice, 2020
Kenny, C, Swallowing Problems in Cancer, Irish Association for Cancer Research, Belfast, 2019
Kenny C, Regan J, Walsh, D, Dysphagia in cancers outside the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract, 55th Annual Conference: Irish Association for Cancer Research, Belfast, 2019
Kenny, C., Regan, J., Balding, L., Higgins, S., O'Leary, N., Kelleher, F., McDermott, R., Armstrong, J., Mihai, A., Tiernan, E. and Westrup, J., Dysphagia prevalence and predictors in cancers outside the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract. , Journal of pain and symptom management., 2019
Ciaran Kenny, Julie Regan, Declan Walsh, Dysphagia in cancers outside the head, neck, and upper GI tract, Translating Health and Social Care Professions' Research into Policy and Practice, Dublin, 2018, 2018
Kenny, C., Gilheaney, O, Walsh, D, Regan, J., Oropharyngeal Dysphagia Evaluation Tools in Adults with Solid Malignancies Outside the Head and Neck and Upper GI Tract: A Systematic Review, Dysphagia, 33, (3), 2018, p303 - 320
Gilheaney, Ó., Béchet, S., Kerr, P., Kenny, C., Smith, S., Kouider, R., Kidd, R., Walshe, M., The prevalence of oral stage dysphagia in adults presenting with temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 76, (6), 2018, p448 - 458
Ciaran Kenny, Julie Regan, Declan Walsh, Dysphagia in solid cancers: Clinical characteristics and impact, European Society for Swallowing Disorders, Dublin, 2018
Kenny C, Regan J, Walsh D, Cancer cachexia and dysphagia: A nutritional and therapeutic dilemma?, 37, (S1), 2018, ppS77 - S78
Kenny C., Regan J., Walsh D., Dysphagia in cancer patients: Common, dangerous, and under-diagnosed , 26 , (S2 ), 2018, ppS170 -
Ciaran Kenny, Julie Regan, Declan Walsh, Dysphagia in solid cancers: Prevalance and predictors, European Society for Swallowing Disorders, Dublin, 2018
Ciaran Kenny, Julie Regan, Declan Walsh, Dysphagia screening, evaluation and quality of life tools for cancers outside the head, neck, and upper GI tract: A systematic review, Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists Biennial Conference, Dublin, 2017
Kenny, C., Mukerji, N., Walsh, D., A clinical audit of xerostomia assessment and treatment practices amongst advanced cancer patients in a palliative care setting, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, APM Supportive & Palliative Care Conference, Belfast, 7, (S1), 2017
Kenny C., Assessment practices of Irish speech and language therapists in the evaluation of voice disorders , Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, 42 , (1 ), 2017, p12-21 -
Kenny, C., Uí Dhuibhír, P., O'Donoghue, N., Barrett, N., Parkes, C., Daly, S., Thirion, P., Walsh, D., Wireless intra-oral measurement of dynamic tongue pressures: A clinical utility pilot study, Dysphagia, European Society for Swallowing Disorders, Milan, 32, (1), 2017, pp147 - 147
Kenny, C., Regan, J., Walsh, D., Psychometric properties of screening and evaluation tools for oro-pharyngeal dysphagia in adults with cancer outside the upper GI tract: A systematic review, Dysphagia, European Society for Swallowing Disorders, Milan, 32, (1), 2017, pp133 - 133
Mukerji, N., Kenny, C., Walsh, D., A clinical audit of xerostomia assessment and treatment practices amongst advanced cancer patients in a palliative care setting, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 186, (1), 2016, ppS24 - S25
Holmes, E., Kenny, C., Samuel, M., Regan, J., O'Rourke, J., McCoubrey, C., The role of Speech and Language Therapy in Assessing and Managing Pharyngo-esophageal Diverticula, Irish Medical Journal, 108, (10), 2015, p296 - 298
Lawson, S., Macklin, I., Kenny, C., Voice disorders in older people referred to speech and language therapy, Irish Journal of Medical Science, Irish Gerontological Society, Dublin, 182, (6), 2013, ppS260 - S260
Kenny, C., Loudness therapy application for Parkinson's Disease using iPhone and iPad, International Journal of Integrated Care, London, 11, (6), 2011
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Ciarán Kenny, Dysphagia in Cancers outside Anatomic Swallow Regions, European Society for Swallowing Disorders, Online Webinar, 10/04/2019, 2019
Ciaran Kenny, Julie Regan, Declan Walsh, Dysphagia in Cancers outside the Head, Neck, and Upper GI Tract, BACO, Manchester, UK, June 2018, 2018, British Association for Clinical Otolaryngology
Walshe M, Regan J, Kenny C. , 8th Annual ESSD Congress, 25th - 29th Sept , In:Dysphagia: Shaping the Future, 2018, Aviva Stadium Dublin
Ciaran Kenny, Julie Regan, Declan Walsh, Dysphagia in solid cancers, Grand Rounds, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, 2018
Research Expertise
Recognition
Awards and Honours
Master in Arts (jure officiai)
Memberships
Full Member of Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (MIASLT)
Member of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD).
CORU registered Speech and Language Therapist.
Irish Voice Special Interest Group (SIG)