Cara E. Stepp, PhD

Professor, Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College

Biography

Dr. Stepp is the director of the STEPP LAB for Sensorimotor Rehabilitation Engineering at Boston University. Her research uses engineering tools to rehabilitate disordered sensorimotor function of voice and speech. Her long-term research goal is to extend current and novel therapeutic advances to the speech system, improving current treatment alternatives.

Dr. Stepp specializes in voice and speech disorders, integrating speech science, computer science, and engineering to improve diagnosis and rehabilitation of communication-based challenges. She is a past NSF CAREER Award and PECASE recipient, with multiple active federal grants supporting her research, and is a past Peter Paul Career Development Professor. She has published 2 book chapters and more than 100 articles in science and health journals.

Publications

  • Published 4/14/2025

    Buckley DP, Dahl KL, Norotsky RL, Sauder C, Tracy LF, Stepp CE. Are Auditory-Perceptual Evaluations of Dysphonia by Experienced Voice Clinicians Affected by Knowledge of Speaker Race? Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2025 May 06; 34(3):1341-1351. PMID: 40227135.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/19/2025

    Weerathunge HR, Vojtech J, Dunsmuir CJ, Cocroft SJ, Díaz-Cádiz ME, McKenna V, Stepp CE. Characterization of Vocal Motor Control Using Laryngeal Kinematics in Individuals With Hyperfunctional Voice Disorders. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2025 Apr 08; 68(4):1743-1757. PMID: 40106413.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/13/2025

    Tomassi NE, Turashvili DM, Williams A, Walsh B, Stephen EP, Stepp CE. Investigating Cognitive Load and Autonomic Arousal During Voice Production and Vocal Auditory-Motor Adaptation. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2025 Apr 08; 68(4):1634-1653. PMID: 40080887.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/8/2025

    Pan AY, Grail GPO, Albert G, Groll MD, Stepp CE, Arnocky SA, Hodges-Simeon CR. What Contributes to Masculine Perception of Voice Among Transmasculine People on Testosterone Therapy? J Voice. 2025 Feb 08. PMID: 39924373.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/5/2024

    Sauder CL, Marks KL, Meyer TK, Giliberto JP, Knutson M, Wilson E, Stepp CE, Eadie TL. Patient-Perceived Vocal Effort Immediately Following Voice Tasks in Adductor Laryngeal Dystonia (ADLD). J Voice. 2024 Dec 05. PMID: 39643552.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 153 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Professor, Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Websites

Education

  • Harvard University, PhD
  • Harvard University, PhD
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, SM/ScM
  • Smith College, SB/ScB

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