<p>I work as an Audiology and Speech Pathology Specialist (PhD) in the Department of Otolaryngology at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine. My main area of ​​expertise is the rehabilitation process for voice and swallowing disorders, but I also conduct research in the field of audiology.</p>

<p>Prof. Dr. Emine Elif Altuntaş was born in Ankara in 1973. She graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1997 and completed her residency in Otorhinolaryngology at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine between 1998 and 2003. From 2014 to 2019, she pursued a PhD in Audiology and Speech-Language Disorders at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Health Sciences.</p> <p>She began her academic career in 2007 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013 and Full Professor in 2019. Since 2024, she has been serving as a faculty member in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Medicine.</p> <p>Her research interests include otorhinolaryngologic diseases, ototoxicity, hearing loss, genetic and experimental studies, audiology, and vestibular disorders. She has supervised numerous medical specialty theses and served as a researcher or principal investigator in several scientific research projects. She is the author of over 60 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to more than 30 national and international book chapters.</p> <p>Prof. Dr. Altuntaş has participated in numerous scientific meetings and training courses, and has taken active roles as chair, panelist, and instructor in national events such as the Sivas Otology Meetings, Nasal School Workshops, and clinical research training programs. She has also served on the Abstract Review Committee and as a faculty member in scientific courses at the Turkish National Congresses of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery.</p> <p>She has presented numerous oral and poster presentations at both national and international congresses. Her awards include: – 2nd Place in Audiology Oral Presentation at the 9th Cochlear Implantation Otology-Neurotology Congress (2017), – Best Poster Presentation Award at the Turkish Sports Injuries Congress (2012), – 1st Place in General ENT Oral Presentation at the 44th Turkish National ENT and Head & Neck Surgery Congress (2023). In 2022, she was recognized as “Reviewer of the Year” by the journal Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology.</p> <p>She currently serves on the advisory boards of KBB Forum and ENT Cases, and is an editorial board member of Lokman Hekim Health Sciences Journal. Between 2019 and 2021, she was an associate editor for ENT Updates.</p> <p>Prof. Dr. Altuntaş is an active member of several professional societies including the Turkish Society of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Phoniatrics Society, SEBAD, the International Vertigo Society, and the Firat-Dicle Basin ENT Society. She is currently the Chair of the Accreditation Committee of the Turkish Board of Otorhinolaryngology.</p> <p>She also holds several academic and administrative positions at Lokman Hekim University, including Head of the Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Coordinator of the International Visibility and University Ranking Unit, and Board Member of the Center for Professional Skills and Simulation.</p>

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<p>Dr. Mehbube Tuncer was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. She graduated from the Department of Logopedics (Speech and Language Therapy) at Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University. She later completed her master's degrees in Classroom Teaching and in Audiology, Speech and Voice Disorders, followed by a PhD in Speech and Language Therapy at Üsküdar University, Türkiye.</p> <p>Dr. Tuncer has over 20 years of clinical experience in speech and language therapy and currently serves as a faculty member in the Department of Speech and Language Therapy at Yüksek İhtisas University. She is also an internationally certified DIR Floortime Expert Training Leader and has extensive experience in developmental, neurodiversity-affirming, and family-centered intervention approaches.</p> <p>Her academic work focuses on developmental communication disorders, DIR Floortime, cultural competence in speech and language therapy, qualitative research, and interprofessional practice. She has presented her research at national and international scientific meetings. Her current research explores the implementation of the DIR Floortime Model across professional disciplines and cultures, as well as cultural competence and culturally responsive practices in speech and language therapy.</p> <p>Dr. Tuncer continues to combine clinical practice, research, teaching, and professional training to advance evidence-based and culturally responsive services for children with developmental communication needs and their families.</p>