People_
Dr Sarah El-Wahsh
PhD BAppSc (Hons 1) CPSP
Lecturer in Speech Pathology
Sydney School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Sydney School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Sarah is a lecturer, clinical educator, early career researcher, and certified practicing speech pathologist working in a tertiary hospital. Sarah completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) Honours degree in 2017, graduating with Honours I, the University Medal, the Dean’s Scholar Award, and the Speech Pathology Australia award for the best graduating student. Sarah was awarded a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship and completed her PhD at the University of Sydney in 2022. Her PhD focused on communication impairment in multiple sclerosis.
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- Progressive neurological diseases (motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia, multiplesclerosis)
- Aged care
- Rehabilitation
- Palliative care
- Advanced communication skills
- Counselling for non-counsellors
- Communication neuroscience
- Motor speech disorders
- Speech Pathology
- Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary models of care
- Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship - The University of Sydney (2019-2022)
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital (CRGH) Travel Grant $2,000 (2022)
- Australian Biosearch Student Poster Prize - Macquarie University Neurodegeneration Conference (2021)
- Clinical Excellence Award for Most Outstanding Adult Speech Pathology Clinician - South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) (2020)
- Best Oral Presentation Award - 24th Annual European Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis Belgium (2020)
- Runner-up Student Oral Presentation Prize - Macquarie University Neurodegeneration Conference (2021)
- The Deidre Russell Service Recognition Award - Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) (2018)
- The University Medal (2017)
- Honours Class 1 (2017)
- Faculty of Health Sciences Dean’s Scholar Award (2017)
- Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) Student Award for Most Outstanding Academic and Clinical Achievements (2017)
- The University of Sydney Academic Merit Prize (2017)
Publications
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Book Chapters
- El-Wahsh, S., Monroe, P., Kumfor, F., Ballard, K. (2021). Communication interventions for people with dementia and their communication partners. In Lee-Fay Low, Kate Laver (Eds.), Dementia Rehabilitation - Evidence-based Interventions and Clinical Recommendations, (pp. 35-56). United Kingdom: Academic Press. [More Information]
- Alali, D., El-Wahsh, S., Bogaardt, H. (2020). Multiple Sclerosis. In Philip A. Weissbrod, David O. Francis (Eds.), Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Larynx, (pp. 171-176). Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG. [More Information]
Journals
- Bakirtzis, C., Dimitriou, N., Moysiadis, T., El-Wahsh, S., Andravizou, A., Nteli, E., Boziki, M., Nasios, G., Messinis, L., Grigoriadis, N. (2025). Communication deficits in multiple sclerosis: Interactions with cognitive dysfunction and their impact on employment status. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. [More Information]
- Dimitriou, N., Nasios, G., Nousia, A., Anyfantis, E., Messinis, L., Dimakopoulos, G., El-Wahsh, S., Bakirtzis, C., Kostadima, V., Konitsiotis, S. (2024). Adaptation and validation of the Greek version of the Communication and Language Assessment questionnaire for persons with Multiple Sclerosis (CLAMS). Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. [More Information]
- Dimitriou, N., Grigoriadis, P., Dardiotis, E., Nasios, G., Bakirtzis, C., Nteli, E., Nousia, A., Siokas, V., Malefaki, S., Messinis, L., El-Wahsh, S., et al (2024). Adaptation and validation of the Greek version of the Speech Pathology-Specific Questionnaire for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (SMS). International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26(1), 59-67. [More Information]
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2025
- Bakirtzis, C., Dimitriou, N., Moysiadis, T., El-Wahsh, S., Andravizou, A., Nteli, E., Boziki, M., Nasios, G., Messinis, L., Grigoriadis, N. (2025). Communication deficits in multiple sclerosis: Interactions with cognitive dysfunction and their impact on employment status. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. [More Information]
2024
- Dimitriou, N., Nasios, G., Nousia, A., Anyfantis, E., Messinis, L., Dimakopoulos, G., El-Wahsh, S., Bakirtzis, C., Kostadima, V., Konitsiotis, S. (2024). Adaptation and validation of the Greek version of the Communication and Language Assessment questionnaire for persons with Multiple Sclerosis (CLAMS). Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. [More Information]
- Dimitriou, N., Grigoriadis, P., Dardiotis, E., Nasios, G., Bakirtzis, C., Nteli, E., Nousia, A., Siokas, V., Malefaki, S., Messinis, L., El-Wahsh, S., et al (2024). Adaptation and validation of the Greek version of the Speech Pathology-Specific Questionnaire for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (SMS). International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26(1), 59-67. [More Information]
2022
- El-Wahsh, S., Balandin, S., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., Ballard, K. (2022). Managing communication changes in persons with multiple sclerosis: Findings from qualitative focus groups. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 57(3), 680-694. [More Information]
- El-Wahsh, S., Layfield, C., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., Ballard, K. (2022). Perspectives from the patient: A content analysis of communication changes, impact, and strategies to facilitate communication in multiple sclerosis. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 24(2), 173-189. [More Information]
2021
- El-Wahsh, S., Monroe, P., Kumfor, F., Ballard, K. (2021). Communication interventions for people with dementia and their communication partners. In Lee-Fay Low, Kate Laver (Eds.), Dementia Rehabilitation - Evidence-based Interventions and Clinical Recommendations, (pp. 35-56). United Kingdom: Academic Press. [More Information]
- El-Wahsh, S., Heard, R., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., Ballard, K. (2021). Variables Associated with Self-reported Language Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis. International Journal of MS Care, 23(2), 85-92. [More Information]
2020
- El-Wahsh, S., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., Ballard, K. (2020). Development and validation of the communication and language assessment questionnaire for persons with multiple sclerosis (CLAMS). Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 43, 1-9. [More Information]
- Alali, D., El-Wahsh, S., Bogaardt, H. (2020). Multiple Sclerosis. In Philip A. Weissbrod, David O. Francis (Eds.), Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Larynx, (pp. 171-176). Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG. [More Information]
- El-Wahsh, S., Ballard, K., Kumfor, F., Bogaardt, H. (2020). Prevalence of self-reported language impairment in multiple sclerosis and the association with health-related quality of life: An international survey study. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 39, 101896. [More Information]
2019
- El-Wahsh, S., Heard, R., Bogaardt, H. (2019). Development and validation of a speech pathology-specific questionnaire for persons with multiple sclerosis (SMS). International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 21(6), 553-563. [More Information]
Research Conference Presentations
- El-Wahsh, S., Bonnor, S., Byrne, K., Maynes, V., McCluskey, C., Heatley, R., Signorelli, M., & Bogart, E. Speech pathologists’ confidence levels and professional development needs in motor neurone disease (MND): An Australian survey. 35th International Symposium on ALS/MND, 2024, Canada.
- El-Wahsh, S., Bonnor, S., Byrne, K., Maynes, V., McCluskey, C., Heatley, R., Signorelli, M., & Bogart, E. Speech pathologists’ confidence levels and professional development needs in motor neurone disease (MND): An Australian survey. Australia & NZ MND Research Symposium, 2024, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Bonnor, S., Byrne, K., Maynes, V., McCluskey, C., Heatley, R., Signorelli, M., & Bogart, E. Speech pathologists’ confidence levels and professional development needs in motor neurone disease (MND): An Australian survey. Palliative Care NSW State Conference, 2024, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Bonnor, S., Byrne, K., Maynes, V., McCluskey, C., Heatley, R., Signorelli, M., & Bogart, E. Speech pathologists’ confidence levels and professional development needs in motor neurone disease (MND): An Australian survey. The 7th Macquarie Neurodegeneration Meeting, 2024, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Balandin, S., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., & Ballard, K. J. What people with multiple sclerosis need and want to better manage communication changes: findings from qualitative focus groups. Speech Pathology Australia Conference, 2022, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Layfield, C., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., & Ballard, K. Perspectives from the patient: a content analysis of communication changes, impact, and strategies to facilitate communication in multiple sclerosis. 25th Annual European Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis Conference, 2021, Belgium.
- El-Wahsh, S., Balandin S., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., & Ballard, K. What people with multiple sclerosis need and want to better manage communication changes: findings from qualitative focus groups. 25th Annual European Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis Conference, 2021, Belgium.
- El-Wahsh, S., Balandin, S., Bogaardt, H., C., Kumfor, F., & Ballard, K. What persons with multiple sclerosis need and want to better manage communication changes: findings from qualitative focus groups. Macquarie University Neurodegeneration Conference, 2021, Sydney, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Kumfor, F., Bogaardt, H., & Ballard, K. Development and validation of the communication and language assessment questionnaire for persons with multiple sclerosis (CLAMS). Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) in Research and Clinical Practice Conference, 2021, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Heard, R., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., & Ballard, K. Variables associated with self-reported language impairment in multiple sclerosis: A regression analysis. Speech Pathology Australia Conference, 2021, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Layfield, C., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., & Ballard, K. Perspectives from the patient: What we can learn about communication-related symptoms and their impact from persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Speech Pathology Australia Conference, 2021, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Bogaardt, H., Kumfor, F., & Ballard, K. Bridging the gap: communication changes in multiple sclerosis and speech pathology services. Speech Pathology Australia Conference, 2021, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Layfield, C., Kumfor, F., Bogaardt, H., & Ballard, K. Perspectives from the patient: communication symptoms, their impact, and speech pathology services in multiple sclerosis. Macquarie University Neurodegeneration Conference, 2020, Australia.
- El-Wahsh, S., Kumfor, F., Bogaardt, H., & Ballard, K. Development and validation of the communication and language assessment questionnaire for persons with multiple sclerosis (CLAMS). 24th Annual European Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis Conference, 2020, Belgium, 2020.
- El-Wahsh, S., Kumfor, F., Bogaardt, H., & Ballard, K. Bridging the gap: communication changes in multiple sclerosis and speech pathology services. 24th Annual European Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis Conference, 2020, Belgium.
- El-Wahsh, S., Heard, R., & Bogaardt, H. The development and validation of a new Speech pathology-specific questionnaire for persons with Multiple Sclerosis (SMS): preliminary outcomes. 23rd Annual European Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis Amsterdam Conference 2018.
- Bogaardt, H., El-Wahsh, S., & Ballard, K. Incidence and effects of speech, language, and swallowing problems in persons with MS in Australia and New-Zealand: a preliminary report. 23rd Annual European Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis Amsterdam Conference 2018.