Education

PhD Speech & Hearing Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, HK SAR ongoing

Thesis: Development of speech sounds and phonetic complexity in Urdu-speaking children

Supervisors: Dr. Carol K. S. To, Prof. Xiuli Tong

MS Speech and Language Pathology, University of the Punjab, Pakistan 2014-16

Thesis: Acoustic analysis of normal voice patterns in Pakistani adults

Supervisors: Ms. Nazia Bashir, Ms. Sharmeen Aslam Tarar, Dr. Rukhsana Kausar

MSc Human Development and Family Studies, University of the Punjab, Pakistan 2011-13

Thesis: Relationship between generalized anxiety disorder and academic motivation of university students

Supervisors: Ms. Samina Chaudhary, Dr. Attiya Inam

BSc Home Economics, Govt. College of Home Economics, University of the Punjab, Pakistan 2007-11

Summer/Winter Schools

PolyU Summar School – Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience (LCN) July-August 2019

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK SAR

Courses: CBS6441-Advanced Topics in Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics (cr. hrs. 3)

CBS6442-Advanced Topics in Research Methodology for Language Sciences (cr. hrs. 3)

L+ Summer/Winter School on Language Acquisition August 2023

University of Potsdam and University of Padua (virtual)

Streams: Phonology; Environment

Employment History

Teaching Assistant 2020

The University of Hong Kong, HK SAR

Courses: SHSC3032-Language Development and Language Disorders in the Pre-primary School Years

SHSC5032-Advanced Studies I: Interprofessional Practice and Multilingualism in Pediatric Settings

Lecturer September-October 2018

Multan College of Speech & Language Therapy, Pakistan

Clinical Supervisor September-October 2018

Ibn-e-Siena Hospital & Research Institute, Pakistan

Web Developer February-May 2017

Independent/Free-lancer

Research Assistant December 2016-January 2017

Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Pakistan

Project: Generosity, Emotion Regulation, and Perceived Wellness in Elderly

Supervisor: Ms. Tehreem Arshad

Junior Speech-Language Pathologist June 2016-January 2017

Speech Therapy Clinic, Pakistan

Supervisor: Ms. Sharmeen Aslam Tarar

Web Administrator & Coordinator October 2015-December 2016

Pakistan Association of Speech-Language Pathology (PASP)

Web Developer June 2015- August 2016

Independent/Free-lancer

Intern July-August 2013

Department of Psychiatry, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Intern June-July 2012

Department of Developmental Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

Volunteer Activities

Member, Youth Counselling & Development Network – YCDN June 2018-March 2019

Subject & Career Advisor, Career Counseling Portal, Pakistan May 2016-March 2019

Awards and Honors

Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS) 2019-23

The University of Hong Kong, HK SAR

Certificate & Shield for outstanding performance in SCC Examination 2007

Tabindah Model High School, Burewala, Pakistan

Certificate & Shield of Honor 2005

Iqra Board of Education, Punjab, Pakistan [regd.]

Book Chapter

Ambreen, S. & To, C. K. S. (forthcoming). Urdu speech development. In S. McLeod (Ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World. Oxford University Press.

Journal Publications

Anwar, M., Khan, N., Tarar, S. A., & Ambreen, S. (under preparation). Acoustic Analysis of Normal Voice Patterns in Young Pakistani Children.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (under preparation). Speech sound acquisition in Urdu-speaking children.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (under preparation). Phonetic complexity in Urdu-speaking children.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (under review). Review of contemporary Urdu phonological system.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (2022). Development of the Urdu speech assessment test. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 24(3), 138–145. [Link]
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (2021). Phonological Development in Urdu-Speaking Children – A Systematic Review. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64(11), 4213–4234. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_JSLHR-21-00148. [Link]
Hamdani, S. Z., & Ambreen, S. (2021). Data for the Narrative Skills of Urdu-speaking Preschoolers. Data in Brief, 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2021.106737. [Link]
Ambreen, S., Hamdani, S. Z., & Anwar, M. (2020). Speaking Fundamental Frequency of Native Urdu Speakers – A Pilot Study. Journal of Voice, 36(1), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.03.016. [Link]
Ambreen, S., Bashir, N., Tarar, S. A., & Kausar, R. (2020). Maximum Phonation time in Adults with Normal Voices. Rawal Medical Journal, 45(3). [Link]
Ambreen, S., Bashir, N., Tarar, S. A., & Kausar, R. (2017). Acoustic Analysis of Normal Voice Patterns in Pakistani Adults. Journal of Voice, 33(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.09.003. [Link]

Conference Poster & Presentation (refereed)

Qi, X., Ng, W. W. H., Tsang, G. H. K., Ambreen, S., So, K. K. H., & To, C. K. S. (December, 2022). Efficacy of a self-directed video-based caregiver-implemented language program. Oral presentation at Early Childhood Voices Conference (ECV2022). Charles Sturt University. Australia. [Link]
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (June 2022). Urdu phonological system: Exploring the acquisition and developing a language-specific assessment test. Oral presentation at International Child Phonology Conference (ICPC). Purdue University, Canada.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (May 2022). A review of the Urdu phonological system. Poster presented at The National Conference of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). Melbourne, Australia.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (November 2021). Developing a speech assessment test for Urdu-speaking children. Poster presented at The ASHA Convention. Washington DC, USA.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (November 2021). Urdu phonological acquisition by typically developing children - A systematic review. Poster presented at The ASHA Convention. Washington DC, USA.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (June 2021). The Development of Urdu Speech Sound Assessment Test (USAT). Oral presentation at International Child Phonology Conference (ICPC–virtual). Alberta, Canada.
Anwar, M., Ambreen, S., Tarar, S. A., & Khan, N. (June 2021). Acoustic Analysis of Young Urdu Speaking Children. Poster presented at International Child Phonology Conference (ICPC–virtual). Alberta, Canada.
Anwar, M., Ambreen, S., Tarar, S. A., & Khan, N. (June 2021). Characteristics of Word Initial Stop Consonants produced by Young Urdu Speakers. Poster presented at International Child Phonology Conference (ICPC–virtual). Alberta, Canada.
Ambreen, S. & To, K. S. C. (December 2020). A systematic review of Urdu phonological development. Oral Presentation at Research Postgraduate Conference (RPC 2020-21). Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, HK SAR.
Anwar, M., Khan, N., Tarar, S. A., & Ambreen, S. (March 2020). An acoustic study of word initial stop consonants among two-to-five years old Urdu speakers. Oral presentation at 7th National Medical & Allied Health Conference. Rashid Latif Medical College & Arif Memorial Teaching Hospital, Pakistan.
Tarar, S. A. & Ambreen, S. (2016). Evidence-based Practice – The New Face of Clinical Practice. Oral presentation at 3rd National Medical & Allied Health Conference. Rashid Latif Medical College & Arif Memorial Teaching Hospital, Pakistan.
Ambreen, S. (2016). Clinical Application of Evidence-based Practice in Speech-Language Pathology. Oral presentation at 3rd National Medical & Allied Health Conference. Rashid Latif Medical College & Arif Memorial Teaching Hospital, Pakistan.

Professional Memberships

The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) 2021-22

The Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapist (HKAST) 2019-20

Pakistan Association for Speech-Language Pathologists (PASP) 2018-20

Invited Talk

Invited Panel Talk (webinar), University of Home Economics, Pakistan 2021

Topic: Reflections from the field: Scope and opportunities for graduates of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) Invited Talk (virtual), WEmpower, Pakistan 2020

Topic: Scholarships and funding opportunities at the University of Hong Kong

Invited Talk, Centre for Clinical Psychology, Pakistan 2018

Topic: Scholarship opportunities in Hong Kong

Invited Talk, Tabindah Model High School, Pakistan 2017

Topic: Possible directions after matric/10th grade

Certification

Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (CTLHE) 2019

Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, The University of Hong Kong, HK SAR

Jury/Examiner

Juror, for the Final Jury of the BS 3rd Year Industrial Design Project, titled “Edutainment”, held at the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture (SADA), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Pakistan

Skills

Languages Urdu (native), Punjabi (native), English (fluent, TOEFL 100/120)

Software Praat, Phon

Short Courses and Workshops

Vocal Function Exercises July 2018

via MedBridge (Contact Hrs.: 1; offered for .01 ASHA CEUs; Intermediate Level, Professional Area)

Auditory – Perceptual Voice Evaluation June 2018

via MedBridge (Contact Hrs.: 0.5; offered for .05 ASHA CEUs; Intermediate Level, Professional Area)

English at Work: Job Interviews (04 weeks) May 2018

via edX, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

Academic Integrity (04 weeks) April 2018

via FutureLearn, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Author-AID Research Communication Course (07 weeks) November 2017

via inasp.info

Schizophrenia (05 weeks) October 2017

via Coursera, Wesleyan University, USA

Developing Your Research Project (08 weeks) October 2017

via FutureLearn, University of Southampton, UK

How to Write a Scientific Paper: Project-centered Course (04 weeks) October 2017

via Coursera, École Polytechnique, France

Understanding Dementia MOOC (09 weeks) September 2017

Wicking Dementia Centre, University of Tasmania, Australia

Deriving Clinical Meaning from Medical Chart Review September 2016