Research Associate
Sarah Hargus Ferguson, an affiliate of the National Center for Voice and Speech, is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Utah. Dr. Ferguson earned a Master’s Degree in audiology at the University of Maryland and a joint Ph.D. in audiology and cognitive science at Indiana University. Her research expertise is in the acoustic and perceptual characteristics of clear speech for various listener groups, especially older adults with hearing loss. Much of her research has focused on talker differences in clear versus conversational speech, with a goal of establishing the specific acoustic cues that make clear speech easier to understand. Dr. Ferguson’s collaborations with the NCVS include projects on perceived talker age and gender differences in how talkers adjust to changes in variables such as speaking style instructions and changes in the speaking environment.
Contact in Utah:
sarah.ferguson@hsc.utah.edu
