Jennifer Pierce

Jennifer Pierce, PhD

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Otolaryngology

Academic Office Information

jenny.pierce@hsc.utah.edu

Research Interests

  • Neural Pathways in Laryngeal Dystonia Pre- and Post-Treatment with Botulinum Toxin
  • Mechanisms of Disease in Neurogenic Voice Disorders
  • Treatment for Vocal Fold Scar

Dr. Pierce received a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Utah with a minor in neuroscience. She completed two postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Utah. The first investigated a novel substance for treating vocal fold scar in an animal model. The second investigated 1) vascular connective tissues as a factor in onset of idiopathic vocal fold paralysis, and 2) laryngeal dystonia and vocal tremor. Her additional areas of research include translational work investigating the impact of corticosteroids and asthma on vocal fold epithelium, voice acoustic measures in normal and disordered voices, laryngeal manifestations in autoimmune disorders, and treatment outcomes in gender diverse voice therapy. Her main area of study is neurogenic voice disorders. Dr. Pierce is a member of the Voice, Airway, Swallowing Translational (VAST) Research Lab. She is also a clinical speech-language pathologist at LDS Hospital Voice and Swallowing Center.

Education History

Fellowship Voice, Airway, Swallowing Translational (VAST) Research Lab, University of Utah School of Medicine
 Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Utah School of Medicine
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Doctoral Training University of Utah
 PhD
University of Utah
 MS
Undergraduate University of Mount Olive
 BS
Undergraduate Weber State University
Undergraduate College of Eastern Utah
 AS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Myers BR, Pierce JL, Mathy P (2024). The Utah Gender Presentation Scale (U-GPS): Development and validation of a measure of voice-related gender incongruence. J Speech Lang Hear Res, 67(2), 415-428.
  2. Roy N, Merrill RM, Pierce J, Sundar KM (2020). Evidence of Possible Irritable Larynx Syndrome in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Epidemiologic Approach. J Voice, 35(6), 932.e29-932.e38. (Read full article)
  3. Pierce JL, Tanner K, Merrill RM, Shnowske L, Roy N (2021). Acoustic Variability in the Healthy Female Voice Within and Across Days: How Much and Why? J Speech Lang Hear Res, 64(8), 3015-3031. (Read full article)
  4. Pierce JL, Tanner K, Merrill RM, Shnowske L, Roy N (2021). A Field-Based Approach to Establish Normative Acoustic Data for Healthy Female Voices. J Speech Lang Hear Res, 64(3), 691-706. (Read full article)
  5. Merrill RM, Roy N, Pierce J, Sundar KM (2021). Voice, cough, and diurnal breathing problems and quality of life in obstructive sleep apnea. Archives of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, 64(8), 3015-3031.
  6. Chao MR, Howe KA, Pierce JL, Stark AC, Smith ME, Christensen MB (2019). Morphometric Differences in the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Patients with Vocal Fold Paralysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 129(1), 32-38. (Read full article)
  7. Roy N, Merrill RM, Pierce J, Sundar KM (2018). Voice Disorders in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and the Role of CPAP. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 128(3), 249-262. (Read full article)
  8. Carpenter PS, Pierce JL, Smith ME (2018). Outcomes after cricotracheal resection for idiopathic subglottic stenosis. Laryngoscope, 128(10), 2268-2272. (Read full article)
  9. Roy N, Tanner KM, Merrill RM, Wright C, Pierce JL, Miller KL (2018). Epidemiology of Swallowing Disorders in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Quality of Life Burden. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 127(9), 577-587. (Read full article)
  10. Tanner K, Dromey C, Berardi ML, Mattei LM, Pierce JL, Wisco JJ, Hunter EJ, Smith ME (2016). Effects of voice-sparing cricotracheal resection on phonation in women. Laryngoscope, 127(9), 2085-2092. (Read full article)
  11. Roy N, Peterson EA, Pierce JL, Smith ME, Houtz DR (2016). Manual laryngeal reposturing as a primary approach for mutational falsetto. Laryngoscope, 127(3), 645-650. (Read full article)
  12. Pierce JL (2017). Acoustic variability of the adult voice over time. Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups, 2(3), 101-109.
  13. Pierce JL, Tanner K, Merrill RM, Miller KL, Kendall KA, Roy N (2015). Swallowing Disorders in Sjögren's Syndrome: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Effects on Quality of Life. Dysphagia, 31(1), 49-59. (Read full article)
  14. Tanner K, Pierce JL, Merrill RM, Miller KL, Kendall KA, Roy N (2015). The Quality of Life Burden Associated With Voice Disorders in Sjögren's Syndrome. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 124(9), 721-7. (Read full article)
  15. Pierce JL, Tanner K, Merrill RM, Miller KL, Ambati BK, Kendall KA, Roy N (2014). Voice disorders in Sjögren's syndrome: Prevalence and related risk factors. Laryngoscope, 125(6), 1385-92. (Read full article)

Review

  1. Pierce JL (2020). Laryngeal manifestations of autoimmune diseases. [Review]. Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups, 5(2), 439-456.