Janis Oram, PhD
Professor and Associate Dean (Research)
Education
- PhD (Toronto)
- BA, MSc (McGill)
Graduate Program Supervision
Research In Profile
Professor Oram has been researching and supporting children who struggle to learn language for over 25 years. Following completion of clinical training, she practiced for nine years as a speech-language pathologist on an interdisciplinary team at Sickkids in Toronto. After completing her PhD in Speech-Language Pathology and CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship in Imaging Research, she joined Western in 2005. In her research, she examines the neural, auditory, and cognitive underpinnings of language development and disorders in children and conducts practice-based research in collaboration with clinicians and policymakers to improve speech-language supports for preschoolers, with a special focus on hearing loss, autism, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Featured Publications and Projects
Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals
- Binns, A. V., Andres, A., Cunningham, B. J., & Oram Cardy, J. (2022). Current practices, supports, and challenges in speech-language pathology service provision for autistic preschoolers. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, 7, 1-21.
- Daub, O., Cunningham, B. J., Bagatto, M. & Oram Cardy, J. (2022). Usability and feasibility of a spoken language outcome monitoring procedure in a Canadian Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program: Results of a 12-month pilot. Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, 7(1), 67-100.
- Kwok, E., Moodie, S., Cunningham, B. J. & Oram Cardy, J. (2022). Barriers and facilitators to implementation of a preschool outcome measure: An interview study with speech-language pathologists. Journal of Communication Disorders, 95, 106116.
- Daub, O., Oram Cardy, J., Johnson, A. M., Skarakis-Doyle, B. & Bagatto, M. P. (2019). Validity evidence for the LittlEars Early Speech Production Questionnaire: An English-speaking, Canadian sample. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 62, 3667-3678.
- Binns, A., & Oram Cardy., J. (2019). Developmental social pragmatic interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, 4, 1-8.
- Kwok, E. Y. L., Oram Cardy, J., Allman, B. L., Allen, P., & Herrmann, B. (2019). Dynamics of spontaneous alpha activity correlate with language ability in young children. Behavioural Brain Research, 359, 56-65.
- Kwok, E.Y. L., Joanisse, M., Archibald, L. M. D., & Oram Cardy, J. (2018). Immature auditory evoked potentials in children with moderate-severe developmental language disorder. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 61, 1718-1730.
Visit Google Scholar for a comprehensive list of publications.
Current Grants and Research Projects
- Oram Cardy, J. (2018-2024). Relevance of auditory cortical maturation to early language acquisition. NSERC, Discovery Grant. $240,000.
- Cunningham, B. J. & Oram Cardy, J. (Co-PIs) (2022-2023). Improving speech/ language outcome measurement in Ontario’s Preschool Speech and Language Program. Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services Research Contract. $270,000.
- Oram Cardy, J. & Binns, A. (2022-2023). Developing a digital, best-practice guidance document for speech-language pathologists serving the Ontario Autism Program. Ontario Autism Program Workforce Capacity Fund, Sector Innovation Stream Grant. $300,000.
Featured Graduate Student Projects
Approaches to examining the role auditory evoked potentials in early language development.
- Janes, Alyssa (2022). MSc, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Speech & Language Sciences)
Typical and atypical development of compensation to altered auditory feedback.
- Coughler, Caitlin (2021). PhD, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Speech & Language Sciences)
Developing a spoken language outcome monitoring procedure for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs.
- Daub, Olivia (2021). PhD, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Speech & Language Sciences)
Speech-language pathology interventions and ingredients that support social communication and language of preschoolers with autism.
- Binns, Amanda (2021). PhD, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Speech & Language Sciences)
Communicative participation outcomes of preschool speech-language services: Opportunities, challenges, and solutions.
- Kwok, Elaine (2020). PhD, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Speech & Language Sciences)
Visit Scholarship@Western for a list of completed student theses and dissertations in the repository.
Opportunities for Graduate Students
Students interested in joining professor Oram Cardy’s lab are encouraged to consult Join Our Team for more information.
Additional Information
Academic Appointments and Research Affiliations
- Principal Investigator, National Centre for Audiology
- Scientist, Division of Children's Health and Therapeutics, Children's Health Institute
- Member, Western Institute for Neuroscience
- Director, Autism Spectrum and Language Disorders Lab
Awards
- Faculty Scholar (2018-2020)
- CJSLPA Editor’s Award (2022)
Professional Activities
- Centre Leader, ENRICH (formerly Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Training Program), 2014-2022
- Member, Child Health Research Institute Operations Committee, 2020-2022
- Member, University Research Board, 2022-2023
- Member, Honorary Degrees Committee, 2021-2024
