Yunjung is a professor in the School of Communication Science and Disorders and directs the FSU Motor Speech Laboratory. She typically teaches a graduate course (SPA 5230 Motor Speech Disorders) in the fall semesters. Her primary research interests lie in the transformation from a talker’s articulatory behavior to listeners' reactions. Specifically, her work has focused on identifying acoustic and articulatory characteristics of speech produced by people with Parkinson’s disease that negatively impact their speech intelligibility. To this aim, she uses a wide methodological toolkit including acoustic analysis software, electromagnetic articulography (EMA), and ultrasound imaging. Recent work in the lab has focused on developing speech rehabilitation models for people with different language backgrounds (e.g., foreign born immigrants, dialect users) in international, multidisciplinary collaboration with experts in rehabilitation psychology, business, computer engineering, and clinical care. Yunjung is a member of the ASHA Research and Scientific Affairs Committee (2025-2027).
Yunjung is currently accepting PhD students.
Education
- PhD, Communicative Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- MS, Korean Linguistics, Korea University
- BS, Korean Education, Korea University
Research Interests
Speech Science, Motor Speech Disorders, Foreign Accents
Publications & Research
*Thompson, A., & Kim, Y-J. (2024). Acoustic and kinematic predictors of intelligibility and articulatory precision in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 67(10), 3595-3611. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-24-00153
Kim, Y-J. (2024). Introduction to the Forum: Native Language, Dialect, and Foreign Accent in Dysarthria. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 67(9), 2811-2812. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-24-00522
Kim, Y-J., Thompson, A., & Lee, S. (2024). Does native language matter in perceptual ratings of dysarthria? Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 67(9), 2842-2855. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-23-00668
Kim, Y-J., Thompson, A., & Nip, I. (2024). Effects of deep-brain stimulation on speech: Perceptual and acoustic data. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 67(4), 1090-1106. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-23-00511
Kim, Y-J., Kent, R. D., & Thompson, A. (2024). Instrumental analysis of articulation. In N. Müller, L. Spencer, & M. Ball (Eds), The Handbook of Clinical Linguistics (2nd Ed), Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119875949.ch35
Moya-Galé, G., Kim, Y-J., Fabiano, L. (2024). Raising awareness about language- and culture-specific considerations in the management of dysarthria associated with Parkinson's disease within the United States. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 67(9), 2813-2821. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_JSLHR-23-00365
Berry, J. & Kim, Y-J. (2023). Towards the dissociation of dysarthria and dialect in speech kinematics. Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, 30(1).
*Thompson, A., Hirsch, M. E., Lansford, K. L. & Kim, Y-J. (2023). Vowel acoustics as predictors of speech intelligibility in dysarthria. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 66(8S), 3100-3114.
Nip, I., Burke, M. M., & Kim, Y-J. (2023). The effects of deep brain stimulation on speech motor control in people with Parkinson's disease. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 66(3), 804-819.
Kim, Y-J. & Thompson, A. (2022). An acoustic-phonetic approach to effects of face masks on speech intelligibility. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 65(12), 4679-4689.
*Hirsch, M.E., Thompson, A., Kim, Y-J, Lansford, K.L. (2022). The reliability and validity of speech-language pathologists’ estimations of intelligibility in dysarthria. Brain Sciences. 12(8):1011.
Kim, Y-J., Chung, H., & Thompson, A. (2022). Acoustic and articulatory characteristics of English semivowels /ɹ, l, w/ produced by adult second language speakers. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 65(3), 890-905.
Kent, R.D., Kim, Y-J., & Chen, L-M. (2022). Oral and laryngeal diadochokinesis across the lifespan: A scoping review of methods, reference data, and clinical applications. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 65(2). 574-623.
Chung, H. & Kim, Y-J. (2021). Relationship between acoustic characteristics of Korean-English speakers’ /l/ and foreign accent ratings. Journal of Communication Disorders, 94, 106157.
*Espinal, A., Thompson, A., & Kim, Y-J. (2020). Acoustic characteristics of American English liquids /ɹ/, /l/, /ɹl/ produced by Korean L2 adults. The Journal of the Acoustical society of America, 148, EL 179- 84.
*Watkins, E., Thompson, A., & Kim, Y-J. (2019). Speech deterioration of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis before and after diagnosis: A case study of a newscaster. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 4, 1189-98.
*Thompson, A., & Kim, Y-J. (2019). Relation of second formant trajectories to tongue kinematics. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 145 (4), EL323-8.
Kim, Y-J., Coalson, G. A., & Berry, J. J. (2018). A kinematic analysis of coarticulation effects on schwa. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica, 70 (3-4), 203-12.
Kim, Y-J. (2017). Acoustic characteristics of fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ produced by speakers with Parkinson’s disease. Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders, 1.
Kim, Y-J. & Choi, Y. (2017). A cross-language study of acoustic predictors of speech intelligibility in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60(9), 2506-18.
* indicates student’s projects
Grants & Awards
Kim, Y-J. (PI). Toward a speech rehabilitation model for linguistically and culturally minor groups: Foreign born immigrants. NIH-NIDCD R01020468, 2023-2026, $932,094.
Kim, Y-J. (mPI). Development of speech rehabilitation software for persons with dysarthria secondary to stroke. Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), HI22C0736. 2022-2024. $1,226,691.
Kim, Y-J. (sponsor). A multidimensional study on articulation deficits in Parkinson's disease (PI: Thompson). NIH-NIDCD. F31DC020121, 2021-2023. $94,720.
Kim, Y-J. (PI). Vowel impairments in people with Parkinson's disease. Focusing on variability. The Committee on Faculty Research Support (COFRS), FSU Council on Research Creativity, 2021. $18,000.
Kim (PI), Articulatory modifications across speaking modes, Louisiana Board of Regent Support Fund, 2019-2020. $18,388.
Kim (mPI). Application of ultrasound imaging to speech-language pathology, LSU Student Technology Fee Support, 2018. $45,692.
Kim (PI). Speech kinematics in individuals with Parkinson's disease. LSU Faculty Research Grant, 2016-2017. $10,000.
Kim (PI). The same dysarthria in different languages: Hypokinetic dysarthria in English and Korean. NIH-NIDCD R03 012405, 2012-2017. $426,999.
Kim (PI). Articulatory kinematics research using an electromagnetic system, LSU Humanities and Social Sciences Support for New Technology, 2015. $55,890.
Kim (co-I). Identifying the vocal markers of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (PI: Cohen). NIH-NIMH, R03 092622, 2011-2014. $254,200.
Expertnet Profile