Emily Lorang, PhD, CCC-SLP | Morse Scholar Alumni
Morse Scholar Alumni 2018–2021
Current Position
Research Associate
Communicative Sciences & Disorders
Michigan State University
Contact
About
Emily Lorang is a certified speech-language pathologist and postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University. She works in Dr. Courtney Venker’s Lingo Lab. Dr. Lorang’s program of research is devoted to understanding the complex factors associated with successful language learning and functional communication in Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.
Dr. Lorang has two main lines of research. One line examines how the early environment, namely parent language input, impacts language development in young children. The long-term goal of this work is to optimize parent-coached early interventions.
Her second line of work examines how biological, psychological, and social factors affect the ability to communicate in real-time. In particular, Dr. Lorang is interested in how mental health symptoms, such as anxiety, contribute to communication skills in different social contexts for autistic individuals and individuals with fragile X syndrome. The overarching goal of this work is to identify and address barriers to successful communication across daily environments.
Education
| 2014 | BS | Spanish (Language & Hispanic Studies) | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2014 | BS | Communication Sciences and Disorders | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2016 | MS | Speech Language Pathology | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2022 | PhD | Communication Sciences and Disorders | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2018–2021 | Morse Scholar | Major Professor: Audra Sterling, PhD | Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
In the News
Selected Publications
Venker, C. E., & Lorang, E. (2024). Continuing the conversation about echolalia and gestalt language development: A response to Haydock, Harrison, Baldwin, and Leadbitter. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 13623613241287577. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241287577
Elmquist, M., Ford, A. L. B., Lorang, E., & Sterling, A. (2024). Opportunities to Respond During Dyadic Caregiver-Child and Naturalistic Family Interactions Among Children With Down Syndrome: A Preliminary Investigation. American journal of speech-language pathology, 33(4), 2041–2050. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00179
Venker, C. E., & Lorang, E. (2024). A commentary on children’s books about autism: What messages do they send about neurodiversity?. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 17(3), 452–458. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3081
Greenlee, J. L., Lorang, E., Olson, R. H., Rodriquez, G., Yoon, D. M., & Hartley, S. (2024). Comparative analysis of electrodermal activity metrics and their association with child behavior in autism spectrum disorder. Developmental psychobiology, 66(2), e22461. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22461
Piro-Gambetti, B., Greenlee, J., Hickey, E. J., Putney, J. M., Lorang, E., & Hartley, S. L. (2023). Parental Depression Symptoms and Internalizing Mental Health Problems in Autistic Children. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 53(6), 2373–2383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05518-x
Lorang, E., Hong, J., Song, J., DaWalt, L. S., & Mailick, M. (2022). Verbal Ability, Behavior Problems, and Mother-Child Relationship Quality in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 52(6), 2463–2478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05133-2
Hilvert, E., Lorang, E., Maltman, N., & Sterling, A. (2022). Assessing the Quantity and Quality of Language Used by Mothers and Fathers of Children with Down Syndrome During Shared Book Reading. Journal of child language, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305000922000046
Lorang, E., Hong, J., DaWalt, L. S., & Mailick, M. (2022). Change in Maladaptive Behavior Affects Intergenerational Relationships in Fragile X Syndrome. American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities, 127(3), 231–248. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-127.3.231
Lorang, E., Maltman, N., Venker, C., Eith, A., & Sterling, A. (2022). Speech-language pathologists’ practices in augmentative and alternative communication during early intervention. Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985), 38(1), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1080