Current Title & Duties
Dr. Megan E. Cuellar is thrilled to join the faculty in the Speech and Language Pathology Department as an Associate Professor.
Biography
Dr. Cuellar researches and teaches coursework in the areas of Acquired Cognitive Communication Disorders with a specific interest in Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, as well as Swallowing Disorders and Motor Speech Disorders. Dr. Cuellar's research aims to leverage behavioral measures and imaging techniques to study the effects of stimulating mirror neurons to enhance swallowing, cognitive-linguistic and motor speech abilities in clinical populations. She is also working with colleagues across universities to develop a clinical Virtual Reality Environment that may be used to provide accessible services to individuals with Acquired Communication disorders.
Academics, Education, Certifications
• Dr. Cuellar has worked as a licensed Speech Language Pathologist and Professor for nearly 20 years. She earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, her Master's degree from the University of Memphis, and subsequently obtained her Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Megan has taught as a professor and conducted research at several universities, including Midwestern University, Illinois State University, and San Jose State University, Indiana University-South Bend, University of New Haven, and University of Nebraska-Kearney. Her clinical specialty areas include communication coaching, executive function training, and working with adults with a wide range of speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders. Megan holds an SLP state license in Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Recent Publications
Select Publications
Cuellar, M., & Oommen, E. (2021). Objective physiological measures of lingual and jaw function in healthy individuals and individuals with dysphagia due to neurodegenerative diseases. MethodsX, 8, 101461. 3
OOmmen & Cuellar, M., (2021). Objective Measures of Lingual Strength and Range of Motion in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: Implications for swallowing. Physiology & Behavior.
del Toro, C., & Cuellar, M. (2019). Action Observation Treatment for Verb Naming in Aphasia: Picture vs. Video Stimuli. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100(10), e39.
Cuellar, M., & Harvey, J. (2018). Predictive value of laryngeal adductor reflex testing in patients with dysphagia due to a cerebral vascular accident. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. doi:10.1080/17549507.2018.1512652
Cuellar, M. (2017). P316 Time-frequency analysis of the mu rhythm during the perception of swallowing physiology. Clinical Neurophysiology, 128(9), e280.
Cuellar M., del Toro C.M. (2017). Time frequency analysis of mu rhythm activity during picture and video action naming tasks. Brain Sciences. 7(9), 114. doi:10.3390/brainsci7090114. Harvey,
Wilson, Cuellar, M., & Anaya (2017). The effects of stimulus complexity and timing during dual task across neurologically healthy older and younger adults: A pilot study. Communication Disorders, Deaf Studies & Hearing Aids, 5(2).
del Toro, C., Cuellar, M., Duke, G. (2016). Treatment of Residual Speech Impairments Five Years Post- Stroke: A Case Study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 97(10), e84.
Cuellar, M., Saltuklaroglu, T., Harkrider, A.W., Jenson, D., Thornton, D., Bowers, A. (2016). Temporal dynamics of sensorimotor integration during the performance of swallowing: Independent component analysis of EEG data. Clinical Neurophysiology, 127(7):2625-35. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2016.04.027.
Jenson, J., Bowers, A., Harkider, AW., Thornton, D., Cuellar, M., Saltuklaroglu, T. (2014). Temporal dynamics of sensorimotor integration in speech perception and production: Independent component analysis of EEG data. Frontiers in Psychology, 5.
Select Presentations
Cuellar, M., Harvey, J., Chang, I., (November 2020). Virtual Reality for Speech-Language Pathology: Clinical Intervention Implications (virtual upload of a technical research presentation) presented at the 2021 American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
Wang, C., & Cuellar, M., (November 2020). Analysis of Mirror Neuron Activity and Motor Imagery for Dysphagia Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review (virtual upload poster presentation) presented at the 2021 American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
del Toro, C., & Cuellar, M., (November 2020). Vocal Fold Paresis or Paralysis in Infants Following Cardiac Surgery: Impact on Swallowing (virtual upload poster presentation) presented at the 2021 American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
Oommen, E., & Cuellar, M., (November 2020). (virtual upload poster presentation) presented at the 2021 American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
Harvey, J., Chang, I., Cuellar, M. (October 2020). Virtual Reality for Speech-Language Pathology: Developing Sustainable Practices. (virtual conference).
Cuellar, M. (March 2020). International Electronic Conference on Brain Sciences. Investigating the role of mirror neurons in swallowing and dysphagia neurorehabilitation: Preliminary EEG data analysis and interpretation (virtual conference).
del Toro, D., & Cuellar, M., (February 2020). Action Observation Treatment for Verb Naming in Aphasia. A research presentation given at the Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Rosemont, IL.
* Murphy, D., Oeverman, D., Witham, E., Cuellar, M. (February 2020). A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Using the Shaker Exercise Protocol to Treat Individuals with Dysphagia. A poster presented at the Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Rosemont, IL.
*Croci, H., Schleebs, N., Stermetz, M., Cuellar, M. (February 2020). A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Vital Stim to treat individuals with pharyngeal phase dysphagia. A poster presented at the Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Rosemont, IL.
del Toro, C. & Cuellar, M. (November, 2019). Principles of Action Observation Treatment for Adults with Aphasia. A technical research presentation given at the American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Orlando, FL. 5
Mazurek*, A., Gibbons, P., Cuellar, M., Olivares, E. (February, 2019). Diagnostic Practices for Childhood Apraxia of Speech. A poster presented at the Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Rosemont, IL.
Harvey, J., Cuellar, M., Wilson, J. (November, 2018). Multi-Tasking & Aging: Use of dual tasks in clinical practice. A technical research presentation given at the American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Boston, MA.
Oommen, B., Cuellar, M., Rylander, B., Scholten, A., & Mallika, D. (November, 2018). Lingual strength, lingual range-of-motion, and jaw range of motion in healthy individuals: Pilot data. A poster presented at the American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Boston, MA.
Scholtens*, K., del Toro, C., Olivares, E., Cuellar, M. (February, 2017). Parent perception and satisfaction of speech language pathology services for bilingual children. A poster presented at the Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Rosemont, IL
