Guest: Chucky Kim - This deep episode explores the metaphorical bridges between speech and music, revealing their shared elements that foster deep connections with others. Our guest, with a background in music education, music technology, and philosophy, unpacks the parallels between musical expression and the subtleties of speech. The episode emphasizes how both speech and music play vital roles in forging profound emotional connections. Additionally, we explore the integration of cutting-edge technologies in music for speech therapy. From low-cost digital tools to AI-assisted musical experiences, discover the exciting potential of these innovations in therapeutic interventions.
Guest: Isabelle Engler, MT-BC, NICU-MT - In this captivating episode, the host and a previous colleague in music school (now a successful music therapist and children’s book author) will discuss a wide range of topics, exploring the enchanting synergy between speech, music, children's books, and developmental narratives. Discover the profound impact of music and storytelling and how they go together on childhood development. Our hosts share anecdotes, illustrating how melodies become catalysts for expressive growth. Gain insights into specific strategies, from incorporating music into speech exercises to selecting narrative-rich materials for therapeutic sessions. Tune in for practical tips on leveraging the captivating fusion of music and narratives to nurture the potential within every child. Join us for a delightful exploration that creates a symphony of growth and expression in young storytellers.
Guest: Heather Leavy Rusiewicz, PhD, CCC-SLP - While music is often integrated into many speech-language pathology (SLP) areas, the specific art of beatboxing remains a novel but potentially impactful tool to support communication goals and objectives. This session aims to introduce professionals to beatboxing through a clinical lens. By way of observation and guided practice with a professional beatboxer and SLP, participants will be familiarized with the history and fundamentals of beatboxing. The theoretical and empirical connections of beatboxing to SLP, including speech and voice production, will be discussed. The potential impact of beatboxing on engagement during the intervention, especially within a group setting, will be explored. Participants will reflect on ways to integrate beatboxing into practice for individuals of different ages and communication needs.
Guest: Brea Murakami, MM, MT-BC - Research demonstrates that musicians often have better speech-processing skills than non-musicians. This episode provides an overview of the OPERA hypothesis, which outlines five mechanisms (Overlap, Precision, Emotion, Repetition, and Attention) and explains how music experiences can benefit speech and language processing. The guest will share real-life case examples of how singing can be used to practice speech-related goals, along with intervention ideas and variations that non-musician speech-language pathologists can lead.
Guest: Erik X. Raj, PhD, CCC-SLP - This exciting episode features an interdisciplinary SLP, associate professor, and rock musician discussing the intersection of music and speech theoretically and experientially. Discover how music technology and music-based tools can be implemented as practical, evidence-based interventions in your practice, as well as how your own personal musical journey (or any creative journey) can fruitfully influence your contributions to a disparate field such as speech therapy.
Guest: Margarita Dela Cruz, SLPA - In this final episode, we dive into the ethical challenges faced by a speech therapy assistant in a school-based setting, where the pressure to prioritize detailed developmental reports over therapy sessions becomes overwhelming. Through the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) lens, we explore the journey of reframing language and transforming these challenges into opportunities for empathetic communication and ethical practice.
Guest: Elizabeth Perry, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode discusses David Burns' "Five Secrets of Communication," showcasing these skills' significant impact on healing old wounds and building constructive relationships. Learn the secrets and power of effective and compassionate communication.
In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of compassionate communication through the lens of a case study where a helping professional was deeply impacted by an experience within a toxic workplace culture. We will navigate the challenges faced by the professional in a daycare setting, where the absence of acknowledgment, appreciation, and even the removal of a thoughtful gift create an environment that demands resilience and empathy. Learn real-world applications of NVC and gain tools for navigating workplace challenges with grace.
This episode explores the challenges of communicating effectively with the administration about overwhelming caseloads. Our anonymous guest shares the struggle of articulating the impact on job efficiency. Plus, we'll explore why many clinicians might opt for compliance over confrontation.
This episode dives into the challenges faced by new and seasoned speech-language pathologists (SLPs) as they navigate the often turbulent waters of school-based therapy. We will explore a range of issues, from “bullying” co-workers to unexpected caseload expansions. Join us for insights into maintaining compassionate communication amidst chaos and strategies for standing up for your professional well-being. Learn how to weather the storm and shift towards a more supportive and fulfilling work environment.
In this first episode of the miniseries, join host Stephanie Michele Sweigart | MS, CCC-SLP, as she explores solutions and inspires listeners to cultivate compassionate communication in their lives. Guided by core values of empathy, authenticity, and growth, practical tools and insights will be provided that empower individuals to navigate work challenges with understanding and resilience. The goal is to promote positive change, foster personal and professional growth, and build a community centered around compassionate communication in a safe and supportive space.
Guest: Marileda Cattelan Tome, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - This Making Sense of Myo episode features Dr. Cattelan Tome, who explains the importance of malocclusion on speech and swallowing functioning. She then dives into treatment planning for myofunctional disorders.
Guest: Piya Gandhi, DDS - Dr. Gandhi, a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist, shares the impacts tethered oral tissues can have on oral functioning. Dr. Gandhi shares her “Function First” model for diagnosing tongue and lip ties and the process of frenectomies. Throughout the episode, Dr. Gandhi shares the importance of interdisciplinary care for frenectomies and how she collaborates with SLPs throughout the process.
Guest: Melissa Vagts, MSP, CCC-SLP, - This episode explores how knowledge of orofacial myology allows speech pathologists to effectively use differential diagnosis to determine the best care plan for their patients. Melissa explains when a myofunctional approach would not be appropriate and the qualifications a patient needs to effectively participate in a myofunctional program. Melissa wraps up this episode by sharing ways knowledge of typical oromyofunction can allow SLPs to modify treatment approaches to include myofunctional concepts to support speech and swallowing skills.
Guest: Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP - This episode features a practical and informative perspective of myofunctional therapy for speech sound disorders and the oral stage of swallowing. Char discusses “myo” treatment from three points of view. She covers the rationale behind myo (and why sometimes its treatment validity is unfairly questioned) and, most importantly, outlines the essential components of myofunctional therapy.
Guest: Janine Steine, MA, CCC-SLP, TSHH - This episode features Janine, who shares the importance of interdisciplinary care. Janine explains why interdisciplinary care is important to treating myofunctional disorders, care providers that might be involved with orofacial myofunctional disorders, and signs that a referral is needed.
Guest: Patricia Fisher, MS, CCC-SLP, COM® - This episode explores the relationship between ankyloglossia and disorders that speech-language pathologists treat. Patricia shares her knowledge on ankyloglossia. She starts the episode by explaining the characteristics of ankyloglossia and the impacts it has on the oral mechanism. Patricia then explains how ankyloglossia can impact speech, swallowing, voice, and fluency disorders.
Guest: Linda D’Onofrio, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode features Linda D’Onofrio, who has spent her career studying, teaching, and spreading awareness about orofacial myofunctional disorders. She will discuss what orofacial myology and myofunctional therapy are. Linda then discusses what an orofacial myofunctional disorder is and the signs and symptoms of OMDs. She then dives into how a patient with an OMD can impact speech and articulation skills and why a myofunctional program can support these patients. Listen in as Linda shares the evidence behind using myofunctional therapy to support speech and swallowing goals and whether or not the treatment of orofacial myofunctonal disorders is within an SLP’s scope of practice.
Guest: Hallie Bulkin, MA, CCC-SLP, CMT®, COM® - Listen in as Hallie shares an overview of an orofacial myofunctional evaluation, how it relates to the assessment of speech and feeding and provides examples of when a patient might benefit from a referral to a myofunctional evaluation. Hallie ends the episode by sharing the general goals of a myofunctional treatment plan and an overview of a typical myofunctional treatment session.
Guest: Angela McLeod, PhD, CCC-SLP, QOM - This episode explores the relationship between orofacial myofunctional disorders and speech sound disorders. Dr. Angela McLeod shares ways that an orofacial myofunctional disorder can impact speech sound production. Dr. McLeod shares how improving orofacial myofunction can improve a patient’s ability to produce accurate speech sounds. Listen in as Dr. McLeod presents the evidence behind using a myofunctional approach to treat speech sound disorders. To wrap up this episode, Dr. McLeod shares that considering the potential presence of orofacial myology concerns when addressing articulation disorders is an important component of differential diagnosis to determine the best course of treatment.