Projects per year
Personal profile
Key Research Interests
My research interests have focused on the developing of linguistics informed assessment tools for acquired communication impairments, children from social deprived backgrounds and speakers of more than one language. I have adopted a range of methodologies including online and offline behavioural methods, single case and group studies, linguistics and cognitive screenings.
I am interested in research projects on people with aphasia as well as children with developmental language disorders. I have current collaborations with research partners in Europe as well as in South Asia, working with multilingual communities and their challenges.
I am currently part of the ADHD and Bilingualism project (AttCom) at the University of Oslo, researching on the relations between attentional disorders and language learning with an emphasis on the impact of being bilingual for ADHD.
I have been part of the team lead by Newcastle University who has developed CARA: a Comprehensive Assessment of Reading in Aphasia.
Areas of Expertise
- Clinical Lingustics
- Psycholinguistics
- Bilingualism and cognition
- Aphasia
- Developmental language disorders
- Literacy in adults
Research Group or Lab Membership
UK-MUK - Board member of UK Malasya Consortium
BM- Bilingualism Matters Honorary member
BNS – British Neuropsychology Society, https://www.the-bns.org
BAS – British Aphasiology Society, http://www.bas.org.uk
AoA – Academy of Aphasia, Executive Committee member
CATs – Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists, Cost Action WG5 Aphasia Assessment group
Postgraduate Research Opportunities
I am willing to supervise PGR students in any area of language impairments. Some examples are:
- Communication impariment in aphasia
- Reading in both children and adults with learning disabilites
- Linguistics profiles in developmental language disorder
- Bilingualism and language pathologies
- Linguistics competence in heritage speakers
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Siena
Award Date: 14 Apr 2007
Master in Science
Award Date: 3 Sep 2004
Bachelor of Arts, University of Siena
Award Date: 30 Jun 2003
External positions
Visiting Professor, University of Oslo
1 Aug 2021 → 31 Jul 2025
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara
1 Feb 2021 → 30 Apr 2021
Associate Professor, Heriot-Watt University
1 Aug 2020 → 31 Jul 2021
External Examiner, National University of Singapore
30 Mar 2020 → …
External examiner Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London
1 Sep 2019 → …
External examiner BS/MS Speech and Language Therapy, City, University of London
1 Mar 2019 → …
Assistant Professor, Heriot-Watt University
30 Sep 2017 → 31 Jul 2020
Senior Research Associate, Newcastle University
1 Jan 2016 → 30 Nov 2018
Postdoc Fellow, University of Trento
1 Feb 2010 → 31 Jan 2012
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Malaysian speech-language therapists’ competence in serving patients with Parkinson’s disease
1/10/23 → 31/07/24
Project: Research
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Impact and Evaluation of Public Libraries East of England
Gordon, J., Brownsword, S., Christoforatou, V., Garraffa, M., Hammond, S., Smith, D., Trelford, H. & Xydopoulos, G.
1/07/22 → 31/03/23
Project: Consultancy
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Be quiet! Effects of competing speakers and individual characteristics on listening comprehension for primary school students
Visentin, C., Pellegatti, M., Garraffa, M., Di Domenico, A. & Prodi, N., 9 Mar 2023, In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 20, 6, 4822.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)5 Downloads (Pure) -
Bilingualism Matters: Language Learning across the life span
Garraffa, M., Sorace, A. & Vender, M., Sep 2023, Cambridge University Press.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Book Review: Working with Children Experiencing Speech and Language Disorders in a Bilingual Context: A Home Language Approach by Pert S
Garraffa, M., Jun 2023, In: Child Language Teaching & Therapy. 39, 2, p. 197-198 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
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Can readability formulae adapt to the changing demographics of the UK school-aged population? A study on reading materials for school-age bilingual readers
Sarin, M. & Garraffa, M., Dec 2023, In: Ampersand. 11, 100141.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Developmental Language Disorders among speech-language therapists in Malaysia: challenges, perspectives and future directions.
Razak, R. A., Smith, G., Aziz, M. A. A., Chu, S. Y. & Garraffa, M., 2023, (Accepted/In press).Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Prizes
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British Council UK-Malaysia Board Member
Garraffa, Maria (Recipient), 1 Jan 2012
Prize: Election to learned society
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Activities
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Shin Ying Chu
Maria Garraffa (Host)
19 Sep 2023 → 30 Sep 2023Activity: Hosting a visitor › Hosting an academic visitor
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Academy of Medical Science - Induction Workshop 2023- Global Challenges Research Fund Networking Grants
Maria Garraffa (Speaker) & Rogayah A. Razak (Speaker)
21 Jun 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Invited talk
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External Examiner - UCL Psychology and Language programs
Maria Garraffa (Examiner)
20 Jun 2023Activity: Examination
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Invited External evaluator - Queen Margaret University Edinburgh
Maria Garraffa (Examiner)
Jun 2023 → Jun 2025Activity: Examination
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Heritage Languages at the Crossroads: cultural contexts, individual differences and methodologies
Maria Garraffa (Invited speaker)
28 May 2023 → 30 May 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
Press/Media
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Coverage of 'Libraries for living, and for living better' report
Maria Garraffa, John Gordon, Anna Blackett, Richard Fordham, Stephanie Howard Wilsher, Eleanor Leist, Aisling Ponzo, Dan Smith, Allie Welsh & Georgios Xydopoulos
7/07/23 → 13/07/23
6 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Il cervello non discrimina tra lingue globali e lingue locali: gli effetti cognitivi delle lingue minoritarie.
13/04/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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How a Gaelic education brings bilingual benefits
20/10/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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