Dr. Powlin Arockia Catherine S
Professor & Head of Department
About
Dr. Powlin Arockia Catherine S is a Professor and Head of Department of Speech Language Pathology at MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing. She completed her Doctorate of Philosophy in Speech Language Pathology from the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysore, and has extensive experience spanning clinical practice, academic teaching, and research. Her areas of expertise include phonological development in Tamil-speaking children, pediatric communication disorders, pragmatic skills, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication. She has contributed significantly to the field through publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals and book chapters focused on rehabilitation of differently-abled individuals.
About
Work Experience
2025
MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing
Professor & Head of Department
2025 – Till Date
● Present
Professor & Head of Department
2025 – Till Date
2017
NIEPMD – National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities
Assistant Professor
2017 – 2024
Assistant Professor
2017 – 2024
2013
MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing
Associate Professor
2013 – 2016
Associate Professor
2013 – 2016
2011
MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing
Assistant Professor
2011 – 2013
Assistant Professor
2011 – 2013
2010
NAISH – Nirmala Audiology Institute of Speech and Hearing
Clinical Supervisor
2010
Clinical Supervisor
2010
2006
St. Carmel School for Mentally Retarded Children
Speech Language Pathologist
2006
Speech Language Pathologist
2006
Scientific Papers Published
Language in India
2020- Reni, P. S., Catherine, S. P. A., & Abinaya, A. (2020). Vowel space area in children using cochlear implant. Language in India, 20.
Developing Communication (Book Chapter)
2020- Catherine, S. P. A., Balambigai, N., & Rout, N. (2020). Activities to improve pragmatic skills. In Developing communication (pp. 165–193).
International Journal of Research and Review
2023- Powlin Arockia Catherine, S., Monish, V., Angelin Steffial, F., Oviya, S., & Duvvuri Amrutha Sai. (2023). Interaction time, play time and screen time of typically developing children. International Journal of Research and Review, 10(5).
International Journal of Speech and Audiology
2023- Monish, V., Powlin Arockia Catherine, S., & Rajasekar, M. K. (2023). Speech and language profile of Apert syndrome: A single case report. International Journal of Speech and Audiology.
International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
2023- Powlin Arockia Catherine, S., & Abirami, S. (2023). Development of phonetic accuracy and speech intelligibility in Tamil speaking typically developing children. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 5(1).
International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
2024- Abirami, S., & Powlin Arockia Catherine, S. (2024). Phonological processes in Tamil speaking young children. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 6(1).
Journal of Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
2024- Monish, V., Powlin Arockia Catherine, S., & Rajasekar, M. K. (2024). Deictic gesture production in children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and typically developing children during dyadic interaction. Journal of Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
Iranian Rehabilitation Journal
2025- Monish, V., Powlin Arockia Catherine, S., & Rajasekar, M. K. (2025). Investigating the relationship among communicative gestures and words in Tamil speaking children with Down syndrome. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 23(1).
Chapters Published
Exploring New Pathways of Research and Innovation in Rehabilitation of Differently Abled
2019- Relation among vowel space area, GMFCS and MACS in individuals with cerebral palsy. In Elizabeth David (Ed.), Exploring new pathways of research and innovation in rehabilitation of differently abled (pp. 122–133).
- Traveling difficulties experienced by parents of children with multiple disabilities. In Elizabeth David (Ed.), Exploring new pathways of research and innovation in rehabilitation of differently abled (pp. 225–235).
- Effectiveness of oro-motor exercises among children with cerebral palsy: Parents' perception. In Elizabeth David (Ed.), Exploring new pathways of research and innovation in rehabilitation of differently abled (pp. 116–121).