Ms. Priyanka V Nair
Assistant Professor
About
Ms. Priyanka V Nair is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Speech Language Pathology at MERF-ISH, with more than three years of experience. AAC and the realm of Childhood Communication Disorders are her main areas of focus. She also holds the certification of AVAZ Certified AAC Professional and is a Level 1 Certified Oral Sensorimotor Integration Therapist (OSIT). Her clinical and research interests span early language development, autism spectrum disorder, feeding and swallowing in pediatric populations, and evidence-based AAC intervention.
About
Work Experience
2024
Assistant Professor – MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing, Chennai
2024 – Till Date
● Present
2024 – Till Date
2023
Assistant Professor – School of Rehabilitation and Behavioural Sciences, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry
2023 – 2024
2023 – 2024
2021
Clinical Supervisor – Dr. S. R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bengaluru
2021 – 2023
2021 – 2023
Ongoing Research
- Analysis of High Risk Registers (HRR) for Communication Disorders in Rural & Urban Habitat Residential Areas (UHRA) in Chennai – A Retrospective study
- Establishing Norms for Reading Readiness Skills using Reading Readiness Test in Tamil (RRTT)
Scientific Papers Presented
HCC FlaSH Series VIII – Effective Implementation of Evidences into Aphasia Practice
2024- Nair, P. V., & Castroleena, J. (September 2–4, 2024). Augmentative and alternative communication intervention in individuals with post-stroke aphasia: A study protocol to improve quality of life and psychological factors Best Paper
Advancing Autism Care – Partnering for Progress (9th AUTCON)
Mar 2025- Nair, P. V., Castroleena, J., Regis, C., & Jeeva, S. Early feeding challenges in children with autism spectrum disorder: A developmental milestone checklist and intervention strategies
- Nair, P. V., Arockiamary, S. K., & Nandhini, B. Establishing communication in ASD: A dual-stimulation approach using AAC, social stories, and agile parent training via tele-rehabilitation
- Nair, P. V., Elizabath, H., Hemapriya, & Pon Vasthi, H. Development and validation of a parental questionnaire for increased screen time paving way for early red flags of ASD in young children and enhanced verbal communication using high tech AAC devices
6th Annual Conference on Pediatric Rehabilitation – N'Core
Oct 2025- Nair, P. V., & Arockiamary, S. K. Development of a breastfeeding questionnaire and early feeding–communication intervention pathway for infants in pediatric critical care: ICU to community reintegration
- Nair, P. V., & Arockiamary, S. K. Breastfeeding and its clinical implications for speech and language development
- Nair, P. V., Josthna, P., & Prabhavathi. Effect of prompt response therapy on managing echolalia in children with autism spectrum disorder
- Nair, P. V., Menon, H. R., Maria, A., & Kollanoore, D. Efficacy of cup feeding in premature infants: Promoting suckling reflex and oral feeding
- Nair, P. V., Sundaram, S., U, J., & Renu, J. Behavioural approaches to managing ARFID: A pediatric case study
57th National Conference of ISHA (ISHA CON)
Jan 2026- Nair, P. V., & Arockiamary, S. K. (30 January–1 February 2026). Enhancing functional communication through metacognitive scaffolding in acute and post head and neck cancer patients
- Nair, P. V., & Arockiamary, S. K. (30 January–1 February 2026). Implementing early site-specific swallowing and speech protocols with short term AAC intervention in acute post oral/oropharyngeal cancer patients
7th TAN ISHACON – Indian Speech and Hearing Association, Tamil Nadu
Feb 2026- Maria, J., Nair, P. V., & Jawahar. (14–15 February 2026). Story telling vs story dramatization: Their relative impact on story comprehension in preschool children
- Maria, J., Nair, P. V., & Marimuthu, P. (14–15 February 2026). Neural reflections: Can mirror neuron rehabilitation enhance verbal communication? Extra Mile Award
Real World Evidence in Autism Care (10th AUTCON)
Mar 2026- Nair, P. V., Jayasakthi, & Devi, V. (22 March 2026). Effectiveness of core vocabulary integrated with gestalt language processing in children with ASD exhibiting immediate echolalia
- Nair, P. V., Sujitha, S., Santhoshini, Rubesh, & Gowtham. (22 March 2026). Role of father-child interaction in early language development: Development of a paternal rating questionnaire
- Nair, P. V., Varsa, T., Pavithra, & Brialla, J. (22 March 2026). Comparative effectiveness of CLST, ESDM and combined intervention on communication intent and vocabulary growth in children with ASD Third Prize
- Nair, P. V., Sushan, Jemimah, Keerthana, B., & Vignessh. (22 March 2026). Effectiveness of dramatization based music therapy on expressive vocabulary development in a child with ASD: A single case study
AAC to Support Neurodivergent Individuals – Star Walkers, 11th January 2024
AUTCON 2025 – Advancing Autism Care, Partnering for Progress – Nishta Centre for Excellence, Medical Research and Training, 23rd March 2025
Level 1 – Oral Sensorimotor Integration Therapy (OSIT) Workshop – Speech Gears: Therapeutics for Special Needs, 23rd–24th January 2026