Aging and Speech

Kristy Weissling is a state and national expert on communication disorders that affect people after brain injuries or illnesses like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), or Alzheimer’s. Her research focuses on finding better ways to help people who have lost the ability to speak due to these conditions. She specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)—a field that explores tools and techniques to help people communicate when they can’t rely on natural speech. This might include using picture boards, gestures, or high-tech devices that turn text into spoken words. Weissling studies how to match the right communication tools to each person’s needs and how speech-language pathologists make decisions in complex clinical situations. She has also worked on state and national efforts to improve stroke care and rehabilitation services, particularly in rural areas where access can be limited. In addition to her research, Weissling is deeply committed to teaching. She helps train future speech-language pathologists and teaches courses on topics like aphasia, dementia, and communication technology. Weissling currently serves as the speech-language pathology program director at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and is completing a term as interim department chair. She is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the Nebraska Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSLHA), and the Nebraska Stroke Association. (Updated June 2025).