On the occasion of the World Day for Women in Science, the Cyprus University of Technology, with a view to encouraging women and girls towards engaging in science, presents women scientists being employed at the University and devoted to their research activities.

"A woman can participate effectively in science and research while she is coping very well with her family. In order to achieve this recipe what is needed is strong will, love for whatever she does, planning, and patient people around her. "

Elena Theodorou is a Lecturer of Speech Therapy at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Cyprus University of Technology. She is a registered speech therapist and holds a PhD degree in Linguistics from the University of Cyprus. She teaches the undergraduate courses of Developmental Language Disorders, Clinical Affairs of Speech Disorders, Fluency Disorders and Vocalization Disorders. As far as her clinical experience is concerned, she worked as a Speech Therapist at the Medical Services of the Ministry of Health and the Public Primary Education. She also worked as a liaison officer for Special Education. In this framework, she provided speech therapy services both to children and adults suffering from a wide range of communication disorders. At the same time, she is a wife and mother of two children.

Her current research activity focuses on the identification and diagnosis of children with Language Disorders and the mapping of their language skills with the ultimate goal of more effective intervention. Dr. Theodorou is also concerned with the investigation of the speech therapy services provided to children with very limited or no oral speech, focusing on the field of Augmentative Alternative Communication. She also participates in the COST IS1406 Action, entitled "Enhancing children's oral language skills across Europe and beyond - a collaboration focusing on interventions for children with difficulties learning their first language”. Her research contribution has been presented at international conferences as well as published in collections and scientific journals.

Elena Theodorou is actively engaged in research, in the field of Language and Communication Disorders in childhood.

In brief, her research activity is related to the mapping of the language skills of children with developmental language disorders (primary and secondary) having as ultimate goal the correct and timely identification, but also a reliable evaluation of language difficulties in childhood. Making use of its research results will enhance and improve the performance of speech therapy evaluation as well as intervention ( Evidence Based Practice ). She also deals with the exploration of Augmentative and Alternative Communication services provided to people without or with limited verbal communication. At first stage, she explores the evaluation process followed by speech therapists who work in public education, for children who potentially need methods of Augmentative and Alternative Communication to be able to communicate their needs, desires, knowledge, opinions and emotions.

The results of Elena Theodorou’s research will constitute an important contribution to the field of Speech Therapy for the international scientific community that is actively engaged in research in similar fields and will also contribute to the improvement of speech therapy services both of the public and private sector provided to the children with communication and language disorders.