I am a specialist speech pathologist with over two decades of experience supporting people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) across the UK and Australia, including more than a decade in Sydney, with particular expertise in high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

My MND experience

I began specialising in MND care in 2005 as Principal Speech and Language Therapist at Frenchay Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, part of the Bristol Neurological Institute, where I worked until 2012.

From 2013 to 2020, I worked as a Senior Speech Pathologist in the Motor Neurone Disease Clinic Service at St Joseph's Hospital, St Vincent's Health Network, Sydney. During this time, I co-established the first Communication and Assistive Technology (CAT) clinic in an NSW Health facility, working alongside Occupational Therapy to give clients access to high-tech communication devices and eye-gaze technology.

I continued working with adults with MND and complex neurological conditions in private practice at Optimal Speech Pathology from 2021 to 2025, and now bring this depth of specialist experience to Neuro Connect.

Research and publications

I have contributed to peer-reviewed research on MND care, published in journals including BMJ Open and Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. My research has covered gastrostomy decision-making, telehealth service delivery, and multidisciplinary care in MND.

• Labra J, Hogden A, Power E, James N, Flood V (2020) Gastrostomy uptake in motor neurone disease: a mixed-methods study of patients' decision making. British Medical Journal Open, 10:e034751.
  🔗 doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034751

• James N, Power E, Hogden A, Vucic S (2019) Patients' perspectives of multidisciplinary home-based e-Health service delivery for motor neurone disease. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 14(7):737–743.
  🔗 doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2018.1499139

• Hogden A, Foley G, Henderson RD, James N, Aoun SM (2017) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: improving care with a multidisciplinary approach. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 10:205–215.
  🔗 doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S134992

Conference presentations

I have presented at national and international MND conferences, including contributing to an international multi-centre study on saliva management in MND (ProSec3), and speaking on topics including communication technology, oral health in MND, and telehealth delivery.

In 2014, I presented on the oral health of people living with MND at the MND Australia National Conference.

Committee and advisory roles

I have contributed to state-level MND initiatives, including the Enable NSW Speech Generating Devices Clinical Criteria Review, and special interest groups with the MND Association of NSW.

How I can help

If you or someone you care for is living with MND, I offer:

• Assessment and support for communication changes

• High-tech AAC trials and setup, including eye-gaze and speech-generating devices

• Swallowing assessment and management

• Support for family members and communication partners

• Reports for funding and equipment applications