Mary J. Sandage

Education

About Me

Dr. Sandage earned her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Linguistics from Iowa State University, her master’s degree in speech language pathology from the University of Iowa and her PhD in Exercise Science from Auburn University’s School of Kinesiology. She has been a speech language pathologist for over 30 years during which time she started the professional voice rehabilitation program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Otolaryngology in 1995 before moving to Auburn, Alabama in 2005 and starting the Voice & Upper Airway Clinic within the Auburn University Speech & Hearing Clinic. She is internationally recognized for her research expertise in laryngeal physiology and her clinical expertise in singing voice rehabilitation, chronic cough, inducible laryngeal obstruction, and exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction. Dr. Sandage is a Fellow of the American Speech Language Hearing Association and a Pan American Vocology Association Recognized Vocologist.

Lab(s)

Areas of Expertise

Applied muscle physiology, voice acoustics and aerodynamics, laryngeal imaging, laryngeal and upper airway thermophysiology

Research Interests

Muscle bioenergetics, performance, hormonal, and fatigue aspects of voice physiology; physiology and thermoregulation for upper airway disorders; differential diagnosis and standardization of clinical outcome measures; healthcare disparities

Publications

Selected Publications

Willis, E.C., Tagirisa, V., & Sandage, M.J. (2025). Bioenergetic theory and score analyses: preliminary application to four soprano solos. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2025.05.004

Morton-Jones, M.E. & Sandage, M.J. (2025). Preliminary development of an anaerobic vocal fitness task: Exploring the relationship between lower body anaerobic power and vocal function measures. Journal of Voice.

Morton-Jones, M.E., Kavazis, A., Sandage, M.J. (2025). Blood lactate as a metabolic biomarker of anaerobic vocal capacity: A Pilot Study. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.11.044

Sandage, MJ, Morton-Jones, ME, Hall-Landers, RJ, & Tucker, JG (2024). Therapy outcome metrics for behavioral treatment of inducible laryngeal obstruction: A systematic review. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-24-00396

Apfelbach, C.S., Sandage, M.J., & Verdolini Abbott, K. (2024). Vocal fold vibratory dose and perceived exertion response to the fluid interval test for voice (FIT-V): A novel vocal loading task platform. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.08.017

Sandage, MJ & Nicholson, LM (2024). Competitive swim breathing: A survey-informed tutorial for speech-language pathologists who treat EILO. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.08.013

Hall-Landers, R.J., Morton-Jones, M.E., Plexico, L.W., Spray, G.J., Sandage, M.J. (2024). First-generation OTC antihistamine use and voice function in individuals with allergic rhinitis: A preliminary report. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.06.013

Apfelbach, CS, Sandage, MJ, & Verdolini Abbott, K. (2024). Effects of back pressure on the feasibility and tolerability of laryngeal diadochokinetic exercise: A pilot study. Journal of Voice, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.voice.2024.05.007  

Morton-Jones, M.E., Gladden, L.B., Kavazis, A.N, & Sandage, M.J. (2023). A tutorial on skeletal muscle metabolism and the role of blood lactate: Implications for speech production. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_JSLHR-23-00531

Kent, S.A.K, Fletcher, L., Morgan, A., Morton, M., Hall, R.J., & Sandage, M.J. (2023). Updated acoustic normative data through the lifespan: A scoping review. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.02.011

Tye, S., Hamilton, M-B, Speights Atkins, M., Weaver, A.J., Dillon, K.W., & Sandage, M.J.^C (2024). Perceptions of employability related to severity of hypernasality: A pilot study. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 38(1), 21-39.  https://doi.org/10.1080/02699206.2022.2155876

Sandage, M.J., Milstein, C.F., & Nauman, E.A. (2023). Inducible laryngeal obstruction differential diagnosis in adolescents and adults: A tutorial. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 32(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00187

Morton, M.E.,^G,C Gibson-Young, L., & Sandage, M.J., (2022). Framing Disparities in Access to Medical Speech-Language Pathology Care in Rural Alabama. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 31(6), 2847-2860. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00025

Morton, M.E.^G,C & Sandage, M.J. (2022). Sex and Race Reporting and Representation in Non-Cancerous Voice Clinical Trials: A Meta-Analysis of NIH-Registered Research between 1988-2021. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65(7), 2594-2607. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00141

Allison, L.H., Cutchin, G.M., Snell, E.N., & Sandage, M.J. (2022). 28 Days in the Life of a Vocal Pathology: A Case Study of Videolaryngostroboscopy, Acoustic, and Perceptual Variability. Journal of Voice, 36(5), 732.e21-732.e31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.08.015

Sandage, M. J., Ostwalt, E. S., Allison, L. H., Cutchin, G. M., Morton, M. E., & Odom, S. C. (2021). Irritant-Induced Chronic Cough Triggers: A Scoping Review and Clinical Checklist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30(3), 1261-1291. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-20-00362

Morton, M., Brown, M., Easter, S., & Sandage, M.J. (2021). Potential risks for healthcare disparities among individuals with voice and upper airway disorders: A systematic review. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.11.003

Bustamante, D.A.^G, Plumb, A.M., Bailey, D.J., & Sandage, M.J.^C (2021). Use of NMES for swallowing habilitation in neonatal intensive care units: a survey of clinical practice. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_PERSP-21-00146

Sandage, M.J.^C, Billingsley, C.P.^U, Hatcher, J.L., Petty, B., & Olin, T. (2021). When inspiratory stridor is not PVFM/ILO: A case for diaphragm flutter. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_PERSP-21-00039

Jones, A., Plumb, A. & Sandage, M.J. (2021). Social media as a platform for cyberbullying of individuals with speech and facial differences secondary to craniofacial anomalies: A preliminary survey. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 52(3), 840-855. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_LSHSS-20-00159

Snell, E., Sandage, M.J., Plexico, L.W., & Weaver, A. (2020). Quantifying Vocal Power: Correlation of Whole-Body Anaerobic Power to Vocal Function Measures. Journal of Speech, Language, & Hearing Research, 63(8), 2597-2608. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_JSLHR-20-00110

Cutchin, G., Plexico, L.W., Weaver, A.J., & Sandage, M.J.^c (2020). Data collection methods for the voice range profile: A systematic review. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 29 (3), 1716-1734.  https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-20-00023

Plexico, L.W., Sandage, M.J., Kluess, H., Franco-Watkins, A., Neidert, L. (2020). Blood Plasma Hormone-Level Influence on Vocal Function, Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63(5), 1376-1386. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_JSLHR-19-00224

Sandage, M.J.^C, Dunn, L.A., Edwards, R., & Pope, S.A. (2020). Implications of compression race suit on forced vital capacity: Assessment considerations for paradoxical vocal fold motion in competitive female swimmers. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 29(2), 732-740. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-00185.

Hunter, E.J., Cantor-Cutiva, L.C., van Leer, E., van Mersbergen, M, Nanjundeswaran, C.D., Bottalico, P., Sandage, M.J., Whitling, S. (2020). Towards a consensus description of Vocal Effort, Vocal Load, Vocal Loading, and Vocal Fatigue. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63(2), 509-532. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_JSLHR-19-00057

Recent Presentations

Sandage, M.J. & Slovarp, L. (2023). Advanced Topics in Behavioral Assessment and Management of Upper Airway Disorders. Master Class, American Speech Language Hearing Association National Convention, Boston, MA

Sandage, M.J. (2023). Build off the Breath: Respiration 101 for Voice Habilitation & Rehabilitation, Professional Voice Conference,Vanderbilt Voice Center, Nashville, TN

Sandage, M.J. (2023). Hormones and Heavy Voice Use: Voice Change in the Professional Voice User, Professional Voice Conference,Vanderbilt Voice Center, Nashville, TN

Sandage, M.J. (2022). Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction: Common and Rare Mimics to Consider in the Differential Diagnosis. 16^th Biennial Phonosurgery Symposium, Madison, WI.

Sandage, M.J. (2021). Hyper-tussic (Chronic) Cough and Laryngeal Breathing Disorders: What, Why, and How. The Fall Voice Conference, SLP Pre-conference, Miami, FL.

Belau, M., van Leer, E., Almeida, A.A., van Leer, K., & Sandage, M.J. (2021). Meta Therapy: Beyond Voice Hygiene and Exercises. Invited panel presenter, 50^th Anniversary Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice. Virtual National meeting.

Sandage, M.J. (3/3/2021). Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction for the Clinician & Client. Seminar, 40^th Anniversary Centro de Estudos da Voz, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Sandage, M.J. (3/1/2021). Exercise and Vocal Fitness. Seminar, 40^th Anniversary Centro de Estudos da Voz, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Sandage, M.J. (12/4/2020). Sports science and vocal fitness. Seminar, Australia Voice Association.

Sandage, M.J. (2018). Upper airway thermoregulation during singing warm-up: Implications for epithelial airway surface liquid maintenance and intrinsic laryngeal skeletal muscle function. Pre-conference, 11^th International Conference on Voice Physiology and Biomechanics, East Lansing, MI.

Courses Taught

• SLHS 3400 Anatomy & Physiology of Speech
• SLHS 5100 Motor Learning, Generalization & Adherence
• SLHS 7540 Voice & Upper Airway Disorders
• SLHS 7560 Craniofacial Disorders
• SLHS 7820 Dysphagia