T. Bressmann, Ph.D.

Background:
I am originally from Hamburg, in the North of Germany. I studied Linguistics, Psychology, and Sociology at the universities of Freiburg, Bielefeld and Dublin and received my M. A. in Clinical Linguistics from the University of Bielefeld in 1995. After working as a speech therapist in different neurological rehabilitation centres, I joined the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Technology, Munich, as a clinical researcher. In 1999, I received my Ph. D. in Phonetics from the Department of Phonetics and Speech Communication at the University of Munich. I am cross-appointed to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto and the Department of Special Education at the University of Munich. I am also an Adjunct Scientist at the Research Institute of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (Communication Team) and the current editor of the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Professional interests:
My research interests are in the areas of structurally related speech and voice disorders. The two main foci of my research are head and neck cancer and craniofacial syndromes. A major component of my research is the use of two-and three-dimensional ultrasound imaging for the analysis of tongue function in speech.

Current research:
Functional outcomes of glossectomy surgery.
The exact functional consequences of ablative surgery for oral cancer are still difficult to predict and optimum outcomes cannot yet be achieved for every patient. Our research (funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research) assesses the effect of different reconstructive surgeries on speech and tongue function. 2D and 3D ultrasound imaging of the tongue have proved to be an integral part of this research.

Tactile and visual biofeedback in the therapy of compensatory cleft palate articulation.
This new study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health), will investigate two new therapy interventions for children with cleft palate who exhibit compensatory articulation. We are employing a new palatal appliance that has little 'reminder bumps' to guide the tongue. We will also use biofedback-therapy with dynamic ultrasound of the tongue.

Analysis of nasal-oral balance in hypernasal speakers with cleft lip and palate.
In a number of studies, we are investigating the diagnostic value of different instruments for nasalance analysis as well as the effect of different intonation patterns on nasalance scores.

Current publications:
Rastadmehr O, Bressmann T, Smyth R, Irish JC. Increased midsagittal tongue velocity as indication of articulatory compensation in patients with lateral partial glossectomies. Head & Neck 2008, 30, 718-726.

Bressmann T., Ackloo E, Heng C-L, Irish JC. Quantitative 3D ultrasound imaging of partially resected tongues. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 2007; 136: 799-805

Bressmann T, Klaiman P, Fischbach S. Same noses, different nasalance scores: Data from normal subjects and cleft palate speakers for three systems for nasalance analysis. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics 2006; 20: 205-210.

Bressmann T. Speech adaptation to a self-inflicted cosmetic tongue split: Perceptual and ultrasonographic analysis. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics 2006; 20: 173-170.

Bressmann T, Thind P, Bollig CM, Uy C, Gilbert RW, Irish JC. Quantitative three-dimensional ultrasound analysis of tongue protrusion, grooving and symmetry: Data from twelve normal speakers and a partial glossectomee. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics 2005; 19: 573-588.

Bressmann T. Comparison of nasalance scores obtained with the Nasometer, the NasalView, and the OroNasal System. Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal 2005; 42: 423-433.

Please note:
I am currently looking for M.Sc. and Ph.D. students.   Please contact me for more information.