WELCOME TO

Department of Disability Studies

The Department of Disability Studies aims to become the lead centre for teaching, professional skills development and research on disability related issues in Sri Lanka. At the DDS all teaching and research programs are underpinned by a disability studies paradigm.

WELCOME TO

Department of Disability Studies

Undergraduate Programmes

Offers courses for Speech and Hearing Science degree.

SHS Student Portal

Student Portal for SHS Degree Program.

OT Student Portal

Student Portal for OT Degree Program.

Research

The department is engaged in multidisciplinary research.

	S.A.H.D Jayathilake
	Specialization:	Speech and Language Therapy
	Contact:
	Tel	:011 2958251
	Email	: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research Interests:
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Child Language Disorders Autism Spectrum Disorder
Awards and fellowships:
Academic honours: First class in BSc (Hons) Speech and Hearing Sciences Specialized in Speech and Language Therapy Awards: Professor Sheila Wirz Gold Medal for the best academic performance in Speech and Language Therapy (2017/2018 Academic year) Best oral presentation at the Young Researcher’s Symposium 2023, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya Nominated to Dean’s list for the outstanding academic achievements in, First year (2019/2020) Second year (2020/2021) Third year (2021/2022) Fourth year (2022/2023) of BSc Speech and Hearing Sciences degree program
Service Functions: Module teaching – Fundamentals of Speech and Hearing, Child Language Disorders: Assessments & Diagnostics, Child Language Disorders: Intervention & Management, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Pediatric Feeding Disorders, Personal and Professional Management Clinical supervisor – Undergraduate Speech and language therapy students at the Department of Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama and Ayati National Centre for Children, Ragama. Examination invigilator
Research publications: Published in Conference Proceedings: Fonseka D.S, Amarasinghe W.G.A.M.A.S, Jayathilake S.A.H.D, Ampemohotti N.L, Lokubalasuriya T, Vipulaguna D. “Reading skills of school-aged children with Fragile X Syndrome: A case series”, 8^th Rare disease day symposium 2024. Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. 01^st March 2024. (Poster presentation) Jayathilake S.A.H.D & Muttiah N.A. “Evaluating the effectiveness of a Communication Partner Training on storybook reading for children with CCN”, ASHA Convention 2023. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 9^th – 29^th November 2023. (Virtual Technical Research) Jayathilake S.A.H.D & Muttiah N.A. “The effectiveness of a communication partner training program for parents of children with complex communication needs: A pilot study”, Infocus 2023. Centre for Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. 24^th July 2023. (Oral Presentation) – Book of Abstract Page 9. Jayathilake S.A.H.D & Muttiah N.A. ““Vivesa” Let’s read storybooks: Evaluating the effectiveness of an online self-paced training program for Sinhala speaking parents of children with complex communication”, Young Researcher’s Symposium 2023. Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. 12^th May 2023. (Oral Presentation)

Clinical Services: Speech and Language Therapist at Ayati National Centre for Children, Ragama, Sri Lanka

	Ms. B.M.L.K. Balasuriya
	Specialization:	Audiology
	Contact:
	Tel	:011-2958251 (office)
	Email	: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research Interests:
Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder Central Auditory Processing Disorder Newborn hearing screening Tinnitus Hearing amplification devices
Research publications
Published in Conference Proceedings: Oral presentations Balasuriya B.M.L.K., Ekanayake E.M.M.L., Dayarathna A.M.D.N., Jayasena B.N. (2019). Development of a Dichotic Digits Test, Pitch Pattern Test, and Duration Pattern Test for Sri Lankan Young Adults: Preliminary Findings., Presented at the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019. Balasuriya B.M.L.K. (2018). Using Duration Pattern Test (DPT) to assess temporal processing abilities in normal hearing young adults., Presented at Young Researchers’ Symposium 2018. Poster presentations Thekiyya Farook, Dumini de Silva, Lakmini Balasuriya (2023). Audiological Profile of Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder in Pediatric Population of a Selected Audiology Clinic., Presented at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Boston, United States of America. Awarded as Meritorious Poster. Hewapathiranage S., Karunarathne S.S., Lakmini Balasuriya (2023). Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Validation of Abreviated Profile of a Hearing Aid Benefit Quesstionnare in to Sinhala., Presented at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Boston, United States of America. Dumini de Silva, Lakmini Balasuriya (2022). A Pilot Initiative for Hearing Screening in Adults in Sri Lanka., Presented at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), New Orleans, United States of America.

Service Functions: Module teaching – Diagnostic Audiology 2, Personal and Professional Management, Clinical Practicum 4, Advanced Anatomy and Physiology, Pediatrics and Neurology Clinical supervisor – Undergraduate Audiology students at the Department of Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama and Ayati National Centre for Children, Ragama. Examination invigilator
Awards and Fellowships: Academic honours: Second class Upper Division in BSc (Hons) Speech and Hearing Sciences Specialized in Audiology Awards: Runner up- oral presentation at the Young Researcher’s Symposium 2018, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya
Clinical Services: Audiologist at Ayati National Centre for Children, Ragama, Sri Lanka Ongoing Research: Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Sinhala version of Tinnitus Functional Index
Professional contributions: SLMC and CMCC Registered Audiologist in Sri Lanka Executive Committee member in Lanka Academy of Audiologists (2018 – present)