Prof. Prakash Boominathan is a distinguished Speech Language Pathologist and a prominent figure in the field of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences in India.
He currently serves as the Principal of the Faculty of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (SRIHER- Deemed University) in Chennai, India. In addition to his leadership role, he is a Senior Consultant Speech Language Pathologist at Sri Ramachandra Medical University Hospital. His expertise is also recognized internationally, as he holds a position as a qualified clinical educator and adjunct faculty at the Department of CSD at the University of Toronto.
Professor Boominathan is an alumnus of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), University of Mysore. He earned his Ph.D. in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, specializing in the vocal dynamics of the singing voice, from Sri Ramachandra University. His commitment to advancing his knowledge led him to receive the prestigious Fulbright Research Fellowship in 2005-06. As a Fulbright scholar, he undertook research at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, and various other voice centers across the USA. He has dedicated over 25 years to Sri Ramachandra University.
Throughout his career, Professor Boominathan has been instrumental in significant institutional transformations and developments. In his current role, he was responsible for transforming the department of Speech Language Hearing Sciences, originally established in 1995 under Allied Health Sciences, into an independent constituent college within SRIHER university in 2022, thereby establishing the Faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. His leadership also saw the establishment of the Sri Ramachandra Hearing Aid Centre in 2023 and the Sri Ramachandra Rehabilitation Centre (SAHAYAA), which is a center for stroke rehabilitation attached to the Medical Centre, also in 2023.
He spearheaded the silver jubilee celebration of his department in October 2020, an event during which he instituted the PG Gold medal for academic excellence, initiated a silver jubilee lecture series, organized a “back to college” book donation drive, and secured several sponsorships for the university. He has successfully led program accreditation inspections for one Undergraduate (UG) and two Postgraduate (PG) programs by the statutory council (RCI, Govt. of India), which resulted in the sanction of six additional PG seats for the college. Under his leadership, the implementation of the new credit-based RCI syllabus, compliant with NEP 2020, RPwD Act, and NCrF-UGC, is currently underway.
His clinical and research focus areas are fluency and voice, with a particular emphasis on professional voice care for Carnatic, Hindustani and Film singers. Professor Boominathan has been deeply involved in the establishment of a specialized voice and swallowing clinic at Sri Ramachandra University Hospital. This initiative involved sensitizing, developing, and supporting interdisciplinary teamwork with ENT Surgeons, Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs), and musicians. He has conducted numerous workshops focusing on voice care, assessment, and management.
Prakash is dedicated to fostering a culture of vocal health and development among professionals who rely on their voices for their livelihood. This includes educating teachers, singers, and radio artists on preventative vocal care, development for public speaking and singing, and it is reflected in his research, public outreach, and skill development initiatives.
Prof. Boominathan is a prolific author, with over 80 publications, nearly 70 of which are indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. His contributions also include several book chapters and two instructional DVDs on voice therapy. His scholarly influence extends to editorial boards of several scientific journals, including the Journal of Voice, JAIISH, JISHA, and the Journal of Laryngology & Voice. He has successfully guided five PhD candidates to completion, is currently guiding four more, and serves on seven doctoral committees.
His extensive service to the profession includes holding significant leadership positions. He served as the President of the Indian Speech – Language and Hearing Association in 2024. He is an Expert member of the Speech and Hearing Committee of the Rehabilitation Council of India. He also contributes to various academic and research committees, including the Academic Council of The Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University (2023-26) and SRIHER (DU).
Professor Boominathan’s contributions have been widely recognized. He received the “Teaching Excellence Award” in 2019 from SRIHER (DU). In 2024, he was recognized by SRIHER (DU) for his research publication with the highest impact factor in the faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. In 2023, the Indian Speech-Language & Hearing Association bestowed upon him the prestigious Dr. N Rathna Oration award for his exemplary services and research contributions in the field of Speech Language Pathology.
Professor Boominathan is an alumnus of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), University of Mysore. He earned his Ph.D. in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, specializing in the vocal dynamics of the singing voice, from Sri Ramachandra University. His commitment to advancing his knowledge led him to receive the prestigious Fulbright Research Fellowship in 2005-06. As a Fulbright scholar, he undertook research at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, and various other voice centers across the USA. He also trained in advanced voice diagnostics at the Institute of Musicians Medicine, Frieburg, Germany.
Co-investigator in “Development of speech-language and neurodevelopmental skills among preterm children: A prospective longitudinal study”, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, 2016-2019. (Principal investigator: Dr. Lakshmi Venkatesh, Co investigators: Roopa Nagarajan, Binu Ninan)
Project amount: Rs. 32,21,702
Principal investigator in “Ornaments in Carnatic singing”. Project during the Fulbright Research Fellowship at the Voice Performance Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA – with Ronald C Scherer, Research Professor, Dept. of Otolaryngology, University of Cincinnati, USA), 2005-2006.
Project amount: 12000USD
Co-investigator in “Quantification of perceived nasality using Nasalence score in Tamil speaking population”. Smile Train Kay Grant – awarded by Kay Elemetrics, 2003- 2006. (Principal investigator: Sunitha V Raman, Co-investigators: Roopa Nagarajan)
Project amount: 10,000USD
Principal investigator in “Clinical validation of a multi parametric approach to assessment of voice”, SRU- Gate project, 2009-2010. (Co-investigators: John Samuel, A. Ravikumar & Roopa Nagarajan)
Project amount: Rs. 1,00,000
Peer/Professional Recognition:
President (2024-25) of the Indian Speech Language & Hearing Association.
N Rathna Oration Award (2023) in recognition of Exemplary Services in the field of Speech Language Pathology. Awarded by the Indian Speech -Language and Hearing Association at its 54th National Convention at New Delhi on 17th Feb 2023.
President-Elect (2023-24) of the Indian Speech Language & Hearing Association.
“Excellence in teaching award” (2019) by Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai.
International Fellowship:
Year 2005-06: Fulbright Junior Research Fellowship, at University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Education/academic awards
Year 2001:
“Arati Venkatraman Memorial Gold Medal” for securing the First rank in the University examination 2000, awarded by the University of Mysore.
“Dr. P.D. Manohar endowment gold medal” for securing the highest marks in speech pathology in the University examination 2000, awarded by the University of Mysore.
Year 2000: “Abhilasha Award for the best student clinician, 1999-2000” awarded by the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore.
Year 1995-2000: “Merit Scholarships” awarded by AIISH for securing I Rank in the University exams in B.Sc. & M.Sc. (Speech and Hearing).
Year 1999: “Rank Certificate” for securing the First rank in the B.Sc. (Speech and Hearing), awarded by the University of Mysore.
University awards and service recognitions:
”Chancellor Shri VR Venkataachalam Research Publication Award (2024)” for the Best Research Publication in a journal with Highest Impact Factor in 2023
“20 years of dedicated and continuous service medallion” (2020)
“10 years of dedicated and continuous service medallion” (2010)
Scientific Forums:
Year 2014: “Best Paper Award – Speech Acoustics”, National Symposium on Acoustics, Mysore awarded by the Acoustical society of India.
Year 2013: “Dr. M. Raghunath award for the Best Paper in Speech language”, ISHACON 2013, Chennai awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Year 2011: “Muktesh award for the Best Paper in Speech”, ISHACON 2011, Calcutta awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Year 2010: “Muktesh award for the Best Paper in Speech”, ISHACON 2010, Bangalore awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Year 2009: “Dr. Abrol’s award for the Best Paper in Voice”, ISHACON 2009, Pune awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Year 2005: “Dr. Raghunathan Memorial Award for the Best Poster Presentation in Speech Pathology”, ISHACON 2005, Indore, awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Year 2004: “Dr. Raghunathan Memorial Award for the Best Poster Presentation in Speech Pathology”, ISHACON 2004, Mysore, awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Year 2003: “Dr. Abrol’s award for the Best Paper in Voice”, ISHACON 2003, Chennai awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Year 1999: “Outstanding Presentation of the Scientific Paper” at the V Technical session of the Madras India Regional Chapter of the Acoustical Society of America, Chennai.
Year 1998: “Manohar Memorial Young scientist award” for the best paper in speech pathology, ISHACON 30, Puri, awarded by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association.
Scientific Forums: Awards to the team:
Year 2023: Best Oral Presentation (Language), RAAM-CD, AVMC, Pondicherry (Ms. Adhirai and team)
Year 2019: “First prize” NEOCORE 2019, JIPMER, Pondicherry awarded by the NEOCORE 2019 (Ms. Adhirai GG and team)
Year 2016: “1st prize in Language (oral)– 6th Tamil Nadu Indian Speech & Hearing Association Conference 2016, Pudhucherry awarded by the Tamil Nadu Indian Speech & Hearing Association Conference 2016. (Ms. Jayashree S and team)
Year 2016: “1st prize in Speech (oral) – 6th Tamil Nadu Indian Speech & Hearing Association Conference 2016, Pudhucherry awarded by the Tamil Nadu Indian Speech & Hearing Association Conference 2016. (Ms. Amudhu and team)
RCI CRR No: A05346
Life member of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association (No. L-11040521).
Life Member of Indian Voice Association (No. 222).
Life member of the Tamil Nadu chapter of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association (TAN-ISHA).
Life member of the Madras India Regional Chapter of the Acoustical Society of America.
Life member of AIISH Alumni Association.
Life member of Sri Ramachandra Speech & Hearing Alumni Association (SRSHAA).