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By Dave DeFusco

Abegail Farahan’s passion for speech-language pathology was born from the sounds of three languages echoing through her childhood home. Fluent in Russian, proficient in Farsi and Spanish and raised in a bilingual household hearing Russian and Persian influences, she knows firsthand the power and challenges of communication. Now, as a student in the Katz School’s M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, she brings a unique blend of cultural empathy and understanding to her clinical work, helping individuals find their voice—whether they are children struggling with a speech disorder or an adult recovering from a stroke.

“I grew up in a home where we spoke two to three languages—English, Russian and my dad’s Persian, so I also heard Farsi,” said Farahan. “When I was trying to figure out my career path, I thought, ‘Wow, I can’t imagine being in a situation where I can’t communicate—like a child who can’t even say hi or an adult who lost their language due to a stroke.’”

This realization, combined with her love for Russian’s clipped consonants and Farsi’s melodic rhythms, drove her to pursue a career in speech-language pathology. From the start, she knew she wanted to help people express themselves. “Hearing a kid talk for the first time, seeing a stroke patient regain their ability to communicate—it’s incredibly special to me.”

Farahan’s externships have reinforced her passion for working with diverse populations. During her time at New ¶¶Òőapp Neurogenic, she worked with a 65-year-old stroke survivor with Broca’s aphasia. “He lost fluency and struggled to find words. One day, he got so frustrated with me that he told me to stop talking,” she said. “At first, it stung, but then I put myself in his shoes—he was trying to relearn how to speak. That moment deepened my patience and empathy.”

At Social City, an externship focused on social skills development, she experienced another profound moment of connection that solidified her belief that language is more than words—it’s a bridge to trust and understanding.

“There was a student with Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects a person’s development, ability to learn and behavior. When his mother, who is also Russian, asked how his day went, I translated,” said Farahan. “She was so relieved to hear about his progress in her native tongue that she offered to hire me privately.”

While Farahan appreciates working with adults, she is particularly drawn to pediatric speech pathology. “Children and teenagers have their whole lives ahead of them, and helping them develop communication skills early on can have a lifelong impact,” she said.

One of her most memorable experiences was working with a high school student from an underserved community. “I told her, ‘You’re really smart, you have the potential to become someone,’ and she said, ‘No one has ever told me that before.’ To this day, she texts me for reassurance. It’s these moments that remind me why I chose this field.”

Growing up, Farahan sometimes felt out of place with her multicultural background. “I was embarrassed because none of my friends had immigrant parents. Now, I think it’s really cool because it’s made me more open-minded. Everyone is different, and that’s a strength.”

As Farahan nears graduation in May, she envisions a two-phase career plan. For the first two years, she sees herself working in a school in New ¶¶Òőapp City. Then, she wants to open her own practice focusing on the pediatric population. Her ultimate goal is simple yet profound: to help children find their voice.

“Even if it’s just waving, gesturing or or greeting someone,” she said, “every step forward in communication is a success.”