Rate My Professor Emily Lowther

Dr Emily Lowther is a Lecturer in the Curtin School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University, Perth, where she serves as Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Science (Speech Pathology). A Curtin University alumna, she earned her Bachelor’s degree and Master of Speech Pathology from the institution. In 2014, Lowther received a scholarship to undertake a three-year research project on stuttering at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, collaborating with Professor Shelly Jo Kraft and Professor Janet Beilby from Curtin’s School of Psychology and Speech Pathology. This work focused on identifying genes contributing to stuttering in families. She pursued and completed her PhD there, with her thesis centered on the Model of Access to Speech Pathology Services (MASPS), which was conferred in late 2022. Lowther joined Curtin as a Lecturer in Allied Health in 2023, following positions from 2022.

Lowther’s research specializations encompass stuttering severity in children, the influence of effortful control and temperament on stuttering, genetic factors in stuttering, and speech fluency profiles in people with Down syndrome. She contributed to the landmark 2023 study 'Discovery of 36 loci significantly associated with stuttering,' part of ground-breaking research demonstrating genetic links to stuttering and its familial impact. Other key publications include 'The Role of Effortful Control in Stuttering Severity in Children: Replication Study' (2019) with Shelly Jo Kraft and Janet Beilby, and contributions to reviews such as 'Childhood Stuttering: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?' Her clinical and research efforts emphasize developing specialized interventions for communication challenges in Down syndrome. Certified as a Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) and with CCC-SLP credentials, Lowther delivers lectures and workshops, including 'Navigating Stuttering in Downs Syndrome: Insights and Impact.' She supervises higher degree by research students and teaches in speech pathology programs, advocating for improved access to services and better outcomes for clients with speech impediments.