Karen A. Doherty

Karen A. Doherty is an Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Syracuse University's College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Audiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994), an M.S. from the University of Connecticut (1987), and a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island (1985).

Her research focuses on improving hearing communication for older adults through studies of cognitive aging, age-related hearing loss, and hearing aid technology. The PHAST-R v2 test, developed in her lab, evaluates hearing aid users' practical skills. Key areas include bottom-up (peripheral hearing) and top-down (central processing) influences on speech perception.

Recent articles emphasize assistive listening devices in healthcare settings and training programs for healthcare workers. Her work addresses gaps in hearing aid adoption and effectiveness, particularly for older adults.

• Awards: ASHA Fellow (2016), Distinguished Alumnus Award (2024)
• Grants: NIH-NIDCD grants, Center on Demography & Economics of Aging (2020-2025)
• Labs/Teams: PHAST-R Lab, part of the Hearing Aids Research Group

Dr. Doherty chairs multiple academic committees, including promotion and tenure reviews, and mentors faculty through initiatives like the Advancing Academic-Research Careers program.