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Dr. Jessica Harasym O'Byrne

PhD, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C)
Senior Speech-Language Pathologist, ISTAR
Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children Clinical Chair

A graduate of the º£½ÇÉçÇø, Dr. Jessica Harasym O’Byrne holds a Master of Speech-Language Pathology and a PhD in Rehabilitation Science.

As a long-time ISTAR clinician, Jessica is dedicated to providing individualized and client-focused services to children, youth and adults experiencing changes or differences in speech fluency, including developmental stuttering, cluttering, neurogenic, and psychogenic stuttering. She has completed training in the Comprehensive Stuttering Program, the Lidcombe Stuttering Treatment Program, Palin Parent Child Interaction Therapy, the Camperdown Program for Teens and Adults who Stutter, and has training necessary to provide evaluations and fittings for the Speech Easy^® device.

Jessica’s research interests include communication changes resulting from concussions and mild traumatic brain injury, evidence-based treatment for neurodevelopmental and acquired stuttering, video self-modeling as a treatment maintenance strategy for people who stutter, virtual delivery of speech and language services, and stuttering treatment for individuals with complex communication and learning needs. Her current line of research pioneers the use of arts-based qualitative research methodologies in communication sciences. Jessica has co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles and presented her research at provincial, national and international conferences.

Jessica is passionate about teaching, clinical training and mentorship and enjoys speaking at public, academic, and professional events. In 2019, she was honoured to serve as a committee member for Speech-Language and Audiology Canada's position statement on the role of speech-language pathologists in concussion management.

Academic Publications

Harasym, J., Gross, D., MacLeod, A. A. N., & Phelan, S.K. (Submitted). “They Smirk ‘But You’re Not Dying’” and Other (Mis)Understandings About Communication and Concussion Navigated by Youth: An Arts-Based Reflexive Collective Case Study. Social Science and Medicine.

Harasym, J. A., Gross, D. P., MacLeod, A. A. N., & Phelan, S. K. (2024). “This Is a Look Into My Life”: Enhancing Qualitative