Kimberly Caul

Speech Language Pathologist, MS/CCC-SLP | Clinical Associate Professor | Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS)

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Hometown: Jefferson, WI

Kim has been a Speech Language Pathologist since 2005, and her practice has been primarily in medical settings, such as hospitals, rehabilitation programs and skilled nursing facilities. She has extensive experience evaluating and treating individuals with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological disorders, and is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. Kim also specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), which is the use of communication devices for those who have little or no speech and language. Kim has worked as a clinical professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department since 2017, instructing and training speech language pathology graduate students in clinical practicum. She teaches students how to treat patients and clients through the UW Speech and Hearing Clinic (UWSHC), as well as through the Dewane Neurorehabilitative Pro Bono Clinic, a collaboration with the Department of Physical Therapy on campus. Kim implements Concussion Services for university students and community members, with the purpose of treating individuals experiencing persistent post-concussive symptoms. She has been awarded the Speech Language Pathologist of the Year through WSHA state association, and currently serves on the Committee of Ambassadors for ASHA, the national organization for SLPs. Kim’s passion is pursuing solutions for her patients in order to achieve outcomes that are meaningful and improve her patient’s quality of life.

Talks:

Children and Adults with Communication Disorders

This talk is designed to educate on the nature of communication disorders that occur in children and adults, as well as offer strategies and approaches to facilitate effective and positive interactions. Individuals with communication disorders can include people who have had a stroke, have dementia, autism, Down Syndrome or other disabilities.

Supporting Communication with Stroke Survivors

This talk is designed to educate on communication impairments that result from stroke, as well as provide strategies and approaches to facilitate effective and positive interactions with stroke survivors.

Scary? NOT Scary! Supporting Children and Adults who use Communication Devices to Speak

Some adults and children with disabilities communicate through the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) or other ways of communicating, such as devices, pictures and sign. In addition to the challenges of these individuals in learning how to use these systems, they rely on their communication partners to support them in using their “voice”! This session provides basic information on communication devices and systems that people with adults and children with disabilities may use. Simple and effective strategies for communication partners will be shared.

This topic applies to children with developmental disabilities, such as Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This also applies to adults with acquired injuries, such as stroke, brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Fields of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology

This talk is designed to educate middle and high school students, as well as undeclared college students, on the fields of speech language pathology and audiology.

Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms: Healing After Concussion

Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injury, are caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, causing trauma or damage to brain cells. This results in chemical changes in the brain. Despite not being life-threatening, the effects of a concussion can be serious. Symptoms of a concussion can be acute and resolve quickly, while others experience persistent changes and difficulties for days, weeks or months following the injury. The purpose of this talk is to educate the audience about persistent symptoms following concussion and management of those symptoms in order for individuals to return to life, return to learn and return to play.