A/Prof Anne Whitworth | Curtin University, Perth, Australia

Introduction

Overview

I am a researcher, clinician, and educator in the field of speech pathology, with particular interests in acquired neurological disorders. I joined the team at Curtin University after a 20 year stint in the UK. My particular interests are in developing and evaluating theoretically sound assessments and interventions in aphasia, communication changes in dementia and subsequent intervention, and both facilitating and measuring the real life impact of therapy for people with communication impairments. I am passionate about developing the research capabilities of our profession, exploring ideas from practice and supporting clinicians in carrying out resarch in the workplace.

Employment History

I am currently Associate Professor in Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University. Between 1998-2011, I worked in Speech and Language Sciences, Newcastle University, UK, latterly at Head of Department, and in the Tavistock Aphasia Centre based at the University. Prior to my academic career, I worked clinically within the NHS and in a variety of acute, rehabilitation and community settings throughout Western Australia and Tasmania.

Research Interests

My research interests are diverse, although revolve around exploring the underpinnings of language breakdown in aphasia, how we might differientially diagnose impairments and then intervene in holistic ways that will enable us to address the language deficits, while making the greatest difference to a person's ability to engage in daily life. Cognitive neuropsychology has provided me with a useful springboard to understanding patterns and individual behaviour with theories of discourse and social models of language complementing intervention strategies.

I have developed a number of assessments and therapy protocols that are used widely by speech pathologists, including a comprehensive battery of assessments for Japanese speakers with aphasia, in collaboration with colleagues in the UK and in Tokyo, and am continuing to work on developing further protocols in the area of sentence processing and discourse. I have co-authored a popular textbook for aphasia (the second edition was published in 2013), a collaborative effort with NHS colleagues, and co-authored a set of resources with colleagues from the Tavistock Aphasia Centre for use by speech pathologists working both clinically and in research.

Along side this work, I have an interest in the communication difficulties experienced in dementia, along with developing effective interventions, and am committed to developing research capacity within the workplace through practice-academic partnerships to ensure alignment of clinical practice with research.

Membership

I currently hold memberships of:

Member of Speech Pathology Australia
Fellow of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Member of British Aphasiology Society

Supervision

Teaching Summary

My teaching revolves around research within the clinical setting, and in both accessing and creating the evidence base for the Speech Pathology profession. Current units that I co-ordinate or teach into include:

Research in Speech Pathology (Undergraduate)
Research in Speech Pathology Practice (Postgraduate)
Evidence Based Practice in Human Communication Disorders
Cognitive Neuroscience

Publications

2019

Beales, A., A. Whitworth, J. Cartwright, P. K. Panegyres, and R. T. Kane. 2019. "Profiling sentence repetition deficits in primary progressive aphasia and Alzheimer's disease: Error patterns and association with digit span." Brain and Language 194: 1-11.
Beales, A., K. Bates, J. Cartwright, and A. Whitworth. 2019. "Lost for words: Perspectives and experiences of people with primary progressive aphasia and Alzheimer’s disease and their families of participation in a lexical retrieval intervention." International Journal of Speech-Language Patholog

2018

Whitworth, A., J. Cartwright, A. Beales, S. Leitão, P. K. Panegyres, and R. Kane.. "Taking words to a new level: a preliminary investigation of discourse intervention in primary progressive aphasia." Aphasiology xx Inpress.
Jones, O., J. Cartwright, A. Whitworth, and N. Cocks. 2018. "Dysphagia therapy post stroke: An exploration of the practices and clinical decision-making of speech-language pathologists in Australia." International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 20: 226-237.
Beales, A., A. Whitworth, J. Cartwright, P. K. Panegyres, and R. T. Kane. 2018. "Determining stability in connected speech in primary progressive aphasia and Alzheimer’s disease." International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 20 (3): 361-370.
Hill, E., M. Claessen, A. Whitworth, M. Boyes, and R. Ward. 2018. "Discourse and cognition in speakers with acquired brain injury (ABI): a systematic review." International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders 53 (4): 689-717.
Beales, A., A. Whitworth, and J. Cartwright. 2018. "A review of lexical retrieval intervention in primary progressive aphasia and Alzheimer’s disease: mechanisms of change, generalisation, and cognition." Aphasiology 32 (11): 1360-1387.
Godecke, E., T. Rai, D. A. Cadilhac, E. Armstrong, S. Middleton, N. Ciccone, A. Whitworth, M. L. Rose, A. Holland, F. Ellery, and 2 more contributors. 2018. "Statistical analysis plan (SAP) for the Very Early Rehabilitation in Speech (VERSE) after stroke trial: an international 3-arm clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of early, intensive, prescribed, direct aphasia therapy." International Journal of Stroke 13 (8): 863-880.
Claessen, M. E., E. Hill,, A. Whitworth, M. Boyes, and R. Ward. 2018. "Exploring the relationship between cognitive and discourse profiles of speakers with acquired brain injury: A systematic review." International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders 53 (4): 689-717.

2017

Whitworth, A., and M. Claessen. 2017. "Making waves in our profession: Using research to drive clinical practice." International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 19 (3): 205-207.
Claessen, M., T. Beattie, R. Roberts, S. Leitao, A. Whitworth, and B. Dodd. 2017. "Is two too early? Assessing toddlers’ phonology." Speech, Language and Hearing 20 (2): 91-101.
Whitworth, A. 2017. "The tipping point: are we nearly there yet?." Aphasiology xx: 1-4.
Whitworth, A., and K. J. Ballard. 2017. "Connecting science and practice: Focus and directions for the next 10 years." International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 19 (6): 539-540.
Caley, S., A. Whitworth, and M. Claessen. 2017. "Can we separate verbs from their argument structure? A group study in aphasia." International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders 52 (1): 50-70.

2016

Beales, A., J. Cartwright, A. Whitworth, and P. K. Panegyres. 2016. "Exploring generalisation processes following lexical retrieval intervention in primary progressive aphasia." International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 18 (3): 299-314.
Godecke, E., E. A. Armstrong, T. Rai, S. Middleton, N. Ciccone, A. Whitworth, M. Rose, A. Holland, F. Ellery, G. J. Hankey, and 2 more contributors. 2016. "A randomized controlled trial of very early rehabilitation in speech after stroke." International Journal of Stroke 11 (5): 586-592.
Pearce, B., J. Cartwright, N. Cocks, and A. Whitworth. 2016. "Inhibitory control and traumatic brain injury: The association between executive control processes and social communication deficits." Brain Injury 30 (13-14): 1708-1717.

2015

Webster, J., A. Whitworth, and J. Morris. 2015. "Is it time to stop “fishing”? A review of generalisation following aphasia intervention." Aphasiology 29 (11): 1240-1264.
Whitworth, A., J. Webster, and D. Howard. 2015. "Argument structure deficit in aphasia: it’s not all about verbs." Aphasiology 29 (12): 1426-1447.
Whitworth, A., M. Claessen, S. Leitao, and J. Webster. 2015. "Beyond narrative: Is there an implicit structure to the way in which adults organise their discourse?." Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics 29 (6): 455-481.
Whitworth, A., S. Leitao, J. Cartwright, J. Webster, G. J. Hankey, J. Zach, D. Howard, and V. Wolz. 2015. "NARNIA: a new twist to an old tale. A pilot RCT to evaluate a multilevel approach to improving discourse in aphasia." Aphasiology 29 (11): 1345-1382.
Cartwright, J., B. Sanderson, A. Whitworth, E. Oliver, and N. Gribble. 2015. "Educating a future aged-care workforce: Shaping positive attitudes and developing collaborative practice capabilities." Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology 17 (2): 85-90.
Whitworth, A., S. K. Leitao, M. Breese, L. Cato, and J. Cartwright. 2015. "Volunteer-led aphasia groups in the community: Critical success factors in their sustainability." Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology 17: 68-74.
Whitworth, A., and J. Webster. 2015. "Generalisation: exploring change across language levels." Aphasiology 29 (11): 1235-1239.
Whitworth, A., J. Webster, and D. Howard. 2015. "Shitsugosho rinsho no ninchi-shinkei-shinrigaku-teki apurouchi: hyouka to rihabiriteishon no tameno gaido bukku. [A cognitive neuropsychological approach to assessment and intervention in Aphasia: A clinician's guide, 2014]." Tokyo: Kyodo-Ishi Shuppansha Co Lty.
2015. "Stroke 2015, Combined 26th ASM of the Stroke Society of Australasia and 11th Australasian Nursing & Allied Health Stroke Conference SMART STROKES, Melbourne, Australia." Int J Stroke 10 Suppl 3: 1-84.

2014

Whitworth, A., J. Webster, and D. Howard. 2014. "A Cognitive Neuropsychological Approach to Assessment and Intervention in Aphasia: A Clinician's Guide." 2. United Kingdom: Psychology Press Ltd.
Whitworth, A. B., J. Webster, and J. Morris. 2014. "Acquired Aphasia." In Cambridge Handbook of Communication Disorders Cummings, L., 436-456: Cambridge University Press.
Ferreira, M., D. Oliveira, A. Correia, M. dos Anjos Dixie, S. Pós de Mina, and A. B. Whitworth. 2014. "Cross-cultural adaptation process of the “Conversation Analysis Profile for People with Aphasia” to the Portuguese language." Dementia & Neuropsychologia 8 (3): 223-226.

2010

whitworth, A. 2010. "Using Narrative as a Bridge: Linking Language Processing Models with Real-Life Communication." Seminars in Speech and language 31 (1): 64-75.
Whitworth, A. B. 2010. "Thematic role assignment in word retrieval deficits in aphasia."
Whitworth, A. 2010. "Language Disorders in Children and Adults: New Issues in Research and Practice." INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 45 (2): 260-260.

2006

Turner, S., and A. Whitworth. 2006. "Clinicians' perceptions of candidacy for conversation partner training in aphasia: How do we select candidates for therapy and do we get it right?." Aphasiology 20 (7): 616-643.
Turner, S., and A. Whitworth. 2006. "Conversational partner training programmes in aphasia: A review of key themes and participants' roles." Aphasiology 20 (6): 483-510.

2001

Lambon Ralph, M. A., J. Powell, D. Howard, A. B. Whitworth, P. Garrard, and J. R. Hodges. 2001. "Semantic memory is impaired in both dementia with Lewy bodies and dementia of Alzheimer's type: A comparative neuropsychological study and literature review." Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 70 (2): 149-156.

1999

Whitworth, A., R. Lesser, and I. McKeith. 1999. "Profiling conversation in Parkinson's disease with cognitive impairment." Aphasiology 13 (4-5): 407-425.

1998

Perkins, L., A. Whitworth, and R. Lesser. 1998. "Conversing in dementia: A conversation analytic approach." Journal of Neurolinguistics 11 (1-2): 33-53.

1995

Whitworth, A. 1995. "Characterising thematic role assignment in aphasic sentence production: procedures for elicited and spontaneous output." International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders 30 (3): 384-399.
Whitworth, A. 1995. "Characterising thematic role assignment in aphasic sentence production: procedures for elicited and spontaneous output." International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders 30 (3): 384-399.

1983

Whitworth, A. B. 1983. "Emergence of the concepts 'word' and 'sound' in 4-7 year old children. Observed through response to verbal stimuli." Australian Journal of Human Communication Disorders, 11 (1): 25-40.

Associate Professor Anne Whitworth