CHRISTOS PAPATZALAS

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY: COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

Phone : (+30) 2610 962712
Email : cpapatz@upatras.gr

 

 

ACADEMIC TITLES

  • 2022: Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Speech-Language Pathology Neurosurgery Department, Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly
  • 2016: Master’s Degree (MSc) in LinguisticsDivision of Linguistics, Department of Philology University of Patras
  • 2014: Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Speech-Language Therapy Department of Speech-Language Therapy Technological Educational Institute of Patras (now incorporated into the University of Patras)

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Language disorders associated with brain tumors and other neurosurgical pathologies (e.g., epilepsy, arteriovenous malformations, traumatic brain injuries, etc.)
  • Awake brain surgery and intraoperative assessment of language
  • Aphasias and related acquired language disorders in monolinguals and bilinguals
  • Language representation in the brain and neurolinguistics
  • Neurobiology of language and neuroplasticity
  • Language–cognition interface and language processing in typical and clinical monolingual and bilingual populations

 

TEACHING

Undergraduate level:

  • Psychology of Language and Neurolinguistics (SLT_502)
  • Multilingual Environments and Bilingualism (SLT_705)
  • Learning Difficulties in Speech and Language Disorders (SLT_402)
  • Clinical Practice B1 (SLT_603) and B2 (SLT_703)

Postgraduate level:

  • Speech and Language in Health Education (Master’s program in Health Education, University of Patras)

 

OTHER CLINICAL RESEARCH POSITIONS

  • 2017–Present: Scientific Associate and member of the Awake Craniotomy Team at the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Larissa.

 

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • License to practice speech-language therapy in Greece. Issuing authority: Region of Western Greece, Department of Health Services and Professions
  • Member of the Hellenic Society for Neuroscience (HSfN)
  • Member of the Greek Association of Speech-Language Therapists (ΣΕΛΛΕ).

 

AD HOC REVIEWER

  • American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Journal of Neuropsychology, Brain Structure and Function, Acta Epileptologica, Child’s Nervous System, Neurosurgical Review, Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, Aphasiology, Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics, Disability and Rehabilitation, Journal of Integrative Neuroscience

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapters:

  • Papatzalas, C., Fountas, K., Kapsalaki, E. & Papathanasiou, I. (2021). Language Disorders in Neurosurgery. In: P. Coppens & I. Papathanasiou (Eds.), Aphasia and Related Neurogenic Communication Disorders 3rd ed. (pp. 581-601). Burlington (MA): Jones and Bartlett Publishers

Journal Articles (peer reviewed):

  • Georgiou, R., Zafeiri, A., & Papatzalas, C. (2026). Treating word-form deafness in Wernicke’s aphasia: a case-report. Aphasiology, 1–27. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2026.2725589
  • Papatzalas, C., Fountas, K., Kapsalaki, E., & Papathanasiou, I. (2026). The role of right hemisphere in second language processing: Insights from a case study. Clinical linguistics & phonetics, 1–11. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699206.2026.2685631
  • Karasimos, A., Efstratiadou, E. A., Papatzalas, C., & Papathanasiou, I. (2026). Integrating large language models into corpus-based teaching: A framework for speech-language pathology, computational linguistics and clinical programs. Research Papers in Language Teaching and Learning, 16(1), 106-140
  • Papatzalas, C., Fountas, K., Kapsalaki, E., & Papathanasiou, I. (2026). Linguistic Performance and Quality of Life in Patients with Low-Grade Gliomas. Seminars in speech and language, 10.1055/a-2870-5840. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2870-5840
  • Papatzalas, C., & Papathanasiou, I. (2024). Exploring tumor-related language disorders: Pretreatment and post-treatment considerations. Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing, 11(8), 100526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjon.2024.100526
  • Papatzalas, C., Papathanasiou, I., Paschalis, T., Tzerefos, C., Kapsalaki, E., Petsiti, A., & Fountas, K. (2022). Inferior Longitudinal Fascicle and Reading: Exploring Their Relationship Through a Brain Stimulation Case Study. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 44(1), 52–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/15257401211056857
  • Papatzalas, C., Fountas, K., Kapsalaki, E., & Papathanasiou, I. (2022). The Use of Standardized Intraoperative Language Tests in Awake Craniotomies: A Scoping Review. Neuropsychology review, 32(1), 20–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-021-09492-6
  • Papatzalas, C., Fountas, K., Brotis, A., Kapsalaki, E., & Papathanasiou, I. (2021). The Greek linguistic assessment for awake brain surgery: development process and normative data. Clinical linguistics & phonetics, 35(5) 458-488.  https://doi.org/10.1080/02699206.2020.1792997

SCHOLARSHIPS AND PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • 2018-2021: Three-year scholarship to pursue a PhD, from the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). Project: “Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research” (MIS-5000432), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation
  • 2014: Research Assistant in Greece of the DFG-funded project “The Acquisition of Voice Alternations by Bilingual Children (Greek–German)” (DFG Project AL 554/7-1), hosted at the University of Stuttgart (12 months)