Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder/Director, Choice Tx
Assistant Lecturer, Linguistics,
The University of the West Indies,
St. Augustine Campus
Purpose
Hello! I am Kiara Matthews, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist from Trinidad and Tobago practising since 2014. Instead of scouring the internet to find me, this online portfolio will provide you with all you need to know about who I am, what I do, and what my career goals and research interests are. My mission is to enrich the quality of health, educational and social care in Trinidad and Tobago, and eventually the Caribbean region through promoting and advocating for the professions of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and increasing the number of CSD professionals through stellar academic and clinical education opportunities across the region. To find out more about speech-language pathology in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean, feel free to contact me. Looking forward to sharing all the possibilities with you.
Biography
Overview
I am the founder and owner of Choice Tx, a multidisciplinary private practice based in East Trinidad. I am also an assistant lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.
​
Although, I started my undergraduate studies at UWI St. Augustine, I attained my Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Howard University in 2012. I hold a Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Boston University and am currently pursuing a Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology degree at Northwestern University.
​
I am an executive member of the Speech-Language Audiology Association of Trinidad and Tobago , of the Caribbean Speech-Language Hearing Association , and of the Occupational Therapy Speech-Language Pathology Board of Trinidad and Tobago. I am also registered with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
​
Clinical Area(s) of Expertise
While my caseload comprises mainly young children, I have a particular soft spot for voice disorders as I am a singer - a member of the prolific Lydian Singers. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is difficult to specialise. There are so few clinicians and so many people in need, that we see whoever needs to be seen
​
Research/Career Interests
My current area of interest is academia, specifically the clinical and academic formation of student clinicians. Coming from and working in a country where there is little awareness of the profession, I am passionate about increasing knowledge of the field and the number of professionals working locally and regionally.
​
Additionally, I hope to do research in clinical areas that are rarely addressed in the Caribbean diaspora like:
-
Care and rehabilitation of the soca artiste’s voice around the Carnival season
-
The relationship between a “Caribbean diet” and dysphagia
-
Attitudes toward communication rehabilitation in older adults in the Caribbean and its diaspora