Maria Grigos

Maria Grigos is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University's Steinhardt School. She directs the Motor Speech Lab, which focuses on speech motor control, motor learning across the lifespan, and translational research into motor-based interventions for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Her work is funded by NIH/NIDCD and the Once Upon a Time Foundation. Dr. Grigos holds clinical certification from ASHA and is licensed in New York State for speech-language pathology.

Research Interests: Combines perceptual, acoustic, and kinematic methods to study speech motor control mechanisms, motor learning principles, and efficacy of motor interventions for CAS. Her lab explores how speech motor deficits manifest in CAS and how structured interventions like Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) can improve speech production in children.

Key Contributions: Developed the Multilevel Word Accuracy Composite Scale (MACS) for CAS assessment. Published extensively on speech motor plasticity in children with CAS, listener perception of speech intelligibility, and post-facial transplant speech recovery. Collaborates with surgical teams to analyze periorbital function post-transplantation.

Funding & Recognition: NIH grants supporting motor intervention research. Lab also receives support from the Once Upon a Time Foundation. Recognized for advancing clinical applications of motor learning theories in speech therapy.

Courses Taught: Leads the Communicative Sciences and Disorders Research Colloquium (CSCD-GE 2420), teaches Neurogenic Speech Disorders (CSCD-GE 2023), and Speech Sound Disorders in Children (CSCD-GE 2108), emphasizing evidence-based clinical practices and phonological development theories.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Motor Speech Lab, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on translational research bridging basic science and clinical practice. Supervises graduate students in clinical research methodologies and motor speech disorders.