![Dr Kath Benfer](/sites/default/files/profiles/13671.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Dr Kath Benfer is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, The University of Queensland. Her Post-Doctoral work focuses on community-based early detection and intervention for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in low-resource countries (India and Bangladesh). She was awarded the prestigious Endeavour Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship through the Australian Commonwealth Government to conduct the study. Kath’s PhD explored oropharyngeal dysphagia, gross motor function, growth and nutrition in preschool children with cerebral palsy, in both Australia and Bangladesh. Her work arising from her doctoral studies has been published in 10 peer-reviewed publications and presented widely at international conferences. Dr Benfer has over 12 years of experience as a speech pathologist within paediatric disability, with community-based child and family support services. Kath also has an interest in cross-cultural issues in child health, having worked in Bangladesh for over 2 years both as an AusAid volunteer teaching on the country’s first Bachelor of Speech Therapy degree, as well as conducting research in this context. She has completed her Master of Public Health at La Trobe University in Melbourne within the research and international health streams.
Availability
- Dr Kath Benfer is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, La Trobe University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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First Nations access to allied healthcare
Peer delivered service delivery models for infants with cerebral palsy
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International child health
Parent-delivered interventions for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in low income countries
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Oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy
Prevalence and patterns of oropharyngeal dysphagia, including screening and assessment
Research impacts
My doctoral research was the first to explore prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in a population-based cohort of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) using direct clinical measures; resulting in publication in Pediatrics (Benfer 2013). My thesis established new synthesis and testing of OPD measure psychometrics (Benfer 2012a, 2014c), improving the validity of my prevalence results. OPD was found in majority of children with CP (Benfer 2013) and not limited to those with poor gross motor function (Benfer 2015a, 2014a, 2013). Functional limitations were described in relation to gross motor function, enabling earlier screening and intervention. This study was replicated in a comparative study of children with CP in Bangladesh. It was unique in that it employed consistent methods and raters for CP diagnosis and functional ratings; enabling greater insight into the markedly different clinical picture of CP in a low-resource setting (Benfer 2014, Benfer 2016). This work earned a nomination for the international Gayle Arnold Award for Excellence and publication in Pediatrics (Benfer 2014). My contributions to research in the field of disability in Bangladesh are not limited to my own outputs, but also include supervision of masters and honours students, and research mentoring of clinicians. As a new researcher, my work has had a significant impact, including 13 publications, 143 citations, and 37 conference presentations (31 international).
Works
Search Professor Kath Benfer’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Other Outputs
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: relationship to gross motor function, dietary intake, and nutritional status
Benfer, Katherine Adele (2015). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: relationship to gross motor function, dietary intake, and nutritional status. PhD Thesis, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2015.710
2015
Journal Article
Validity and reproducibility of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2015). Validity and reproducibility of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 57 (4), 358-365. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12616
2015
Journal Article
Clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy
Benfer K.A., Weir K.A., Bell K.L., Ware R.S., Davies P.S.W. and Boyd R.N. (2015). Clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 38, 192-201. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.12.021
2015
Conference Publication
Stability of the gross motor function classificationsystem: comparison between high and low-resource countries
Benfer, K., Jordan, R., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2015). Stability of the gross motor function classificationsystem: comparison between high and low-resource countries. 69th Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), Dallas, TX, United States, 21–24 October 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.38_12887
2014
Journal Article
Motor severity in children with cerebral palsy studied in a high-resource and low-resource country
Benfer, Katherine A., Jordan, Rachel, Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Finn, Christine, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2014). Motor severity in children with cerebral palsy studied in a high-resource and low-resource country. Pediatrics, 134 (6), e1594-e1602. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-1926
2014
Journal Article
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: Oral phase impairments
Benfer, K.A., Weir, K.A., Bell, K.L., Ware, R.S., Davies, P.S.W. and Boyd, R.N. (2014). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: Oral phase impairments. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35 (12), 3469-3481. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.08.029
2014
Conference Publication
Dietary intake and undernutrition in preschoolchildren with cerebral palsy: comparisonbetween high- and low-resource countries
Benfer, K., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. , Davies, P. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Dietary intake and undernutrition in preschoolchildren with cerebral palsy: comparisonbetween high- and low-resource countries. 68th Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12539
2014
Conference Publication
Patterns of gross motor severity and motor type in preschool age children with cerebral palsy: comparison between high and low resource countries
Benfer, K. A., Jordan, R., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Patterns of gross motor severity and motor type in preschool age children with cerebral palsy: comparison between high and low resource countries. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego CA, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2014
Conference Publication
Dietary intake and undernutrition in preschool children with cerebral palsy: comparison between high- and low-resource countries
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, N. R. (2014). Dietary intake and undernutrition in preschool children with cerebral palsy: comparison between high- and low-resource countries. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12539
2014
Conference Publication
Parent-reported feeding ability is related to dietary intake and nutritional status in preschool aged children with cerebral palsy
Bell, K. L., Weir, K. A., Benfer, K. A., Ware, R. S., Stevenson, R. D., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Parent-reported feeding ability is related to dietary intake and nutritional status in preschool aged children with cerebral palsy. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
2014
Conference Publication
Functional oropharyngeal impairments and their relationship to gross motor skills in young children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Functional oropharyngeal impairments and their relationship to gross motor skills in young children with cerebral palsy. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
2014
Conference Publication
Relationship between brain lesion severity and oropharyngeal dysphagia in young children with cerebral palsy
Weir, K. A., Benfer, K. A., Fiori, S., Bell, K. L., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Relationship between brain lesion severity and oropharyngeal dysphagia in young children with cerebral palsy. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, United States, 10–13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12539
2014
Conference Publication
Food textures habitually consumed by preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy: relationship to oropharyngeal dysphagia and gross motor functional skills
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Food textures habitually consumed by preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy: relationship to oropharyngeal dysphagia and gross motor functional skills. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
2014
Conference Publication
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool childrenwith cerebral palsy: comparison between high-and low-resource countries
Benfer, K., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool childrenwith cerebral palsy: comparison between high-and low-resource countries. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12540
2014
Conference Publication
Micronutrient intake in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy: relationship to oropharyngeal dysphagia and functional gross motor skills
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Davies, P. S. W., Ware, R. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Micronutrient intake in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy: relationship to oropharyngeal dysphagia and functional gross motor skills. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
2013
Journal Article
Clinimetrics of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia for preschool children with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities: A systematic review
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A. and Boyd, R. N. (2013). Clinimetrics of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia for preschool children with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities: A systematic review. Dysphagia, 28 (2). doi: 10.1007/s00455-013-9449-x
2013
Journal Article
Oropharyngeal dysphagia and gross motor skills in children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2013). Oropharyngeal dysphagia and gross motor skills in children with cerebral palsy. Pediatrics, 131 (5), E1553-E1562. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-3093
2012
Journal Article
Longitudinal cohort protocol study of oropharyngeal dysphagia: relationships to gross motor attainment, growth and nutritional status in preschool children with cerebral palsy (vol 2, e001460, 2012)
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A. and Bell, K. L. (2012). Longitudinal cohort protocol study of oropharyngeal dysphagia: relationships to gross motor attainment, growth and nutritional status in preschool children with cerebral palsy (vol 2, e001460, 2012). Bmj Open, 2 (5) e001460corr1, 1-1. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001460corr1
2012
Journal Article
Clinimetrics of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia for preschool children with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities: A systematic review
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2012). Clinimetrics of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia for preschool children with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities: A systematic review. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 54 (9), 784-795. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04302.x
2012
Conference Publication
Reported and observed clinical signs of oropharyngeal dysphagia in young children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, K., Weir, K., Bell, K., Davies, P., Ware, R. S. and Boyd, R. (2012). Reported and observed clinical signs of oropharyngeal dysphagia in young children with cerebral palsy. 6th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Brisbane Australia, 30 May - 2 June 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Kath Benfer is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Cultural Adaptation of the LEAP-CP Program for Indigenous Infants at High Risk of Adverse Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Indigenous Culturally adapted BabyMoves App to improve early surveillance and prediction of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome of high-risk NICU graduates in the Northern Territory
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
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Doctor Philosophy
Early detection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants at high chance of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Caregiver-infant emotional availability outcomes and intervention delivery fidelity in a community-based caregiver-implemented program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low resource context
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Emma Crawford, Associate Professor Leanne Sakzewski
Media
Enquiries
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