The Speech Link: A Speech Therapy Podcast

Ep 69: Three Super-Techniques to Foster Academic Success for Those with Down Syndrome - Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP

Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - We must find ways to motivate those with Down syndrome to join their peers in learning. Strategies for active listening, retrieving known information, and planning and executing speech allow them to perform better academically and become independent. This podcast shares three simple and essential strategies to address complex communication issues specifically for students with Down syndrome.

Ep. 68: “Therapy Essentials” for Teletherapy Services - Kristin Martinez, MA, CCC-SLP

Guest: Kristin Martinez, MA, CCC-SLP - Kristin shares practical information on Therapy Essentials, a comprehensive therapy platform and teletherapy training option for both school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and SLPs in the clinical setting. She clarifies and outlines the full features and benefits of Therapy Essentials that can be used to deliver teletherapy, and within hybrid speech-language services

Ep. 67: Conflict Resolution: Essential Tools for Successful Supervision - Janice M. Wright, MA, CCC-SLP

Guest: Janice M. Wright, MA, CCC-SLP - Ms. Wright discusses the issues of conflict resolution rather than conflict management related to the supervision of speech-language pathology supervisees.  She shares constructive definitions, analyzes the typical views of conflict, identifies conflict styles, and tactfully imparts techniques to effectively resolve disputes positively and productively.

Ep. 66: Diadochokinesis (DDK): Research Data and Clinical Applications - Ray D. Kent, PhD

Guest: Ray D. Kent, PhD. - Diadochokinesis (DDK) has been in our field for almost a century and has applications in many specialties. A scoping review found 360 DDK articles and has been associated with diverse etiologies: motoric, structural, sensory, and cognitive. Its popularity notwithstanding, it is not unquestioned as an assessment tool. However, it has been used across a spectrum of disorders and as a proposed biomarker.

Ep. 65: The Competent Clinician, EBP, and Real-World Data Collection Methods - Sandra Combs, PhD, CCC-SLP

Guest: Sandra Combs, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - Some clinicians avoid using research to guide their practice due to implementation challenges that appear controlled or too large to apply to their population. Dr. Combs outlines data collection and procedures on how to utilize single-case research to improve therapy quality. Her goal is to bridge the clinical world and the academic world of speech-language pathology to meet client needs better.

Ep. 64: Selective Mutism: Real-World Info & Answers for SLPs - Shari Gross, MA, CCC-SLP

Guest: Shari Gross, MA, CCC-SLP - -Selective mutism is an often misunderstood social pragmatic communication disorder.  For many children, within their selective silence, their social pragmatic issues mask additional communication disorders:  articulation, semantics, syntax, processing, and even autism spectrum disorders.  This course introduces SLPs to the evaluation and treatment strategies of children with selective mutism.

Ep. 63: Posture: The Missing Piece in Speech Production - Bryan Gick, PhD

Guest: Bryan Gick, Ph.D. - In this research studies and strategies episode, the importance of posture in speech production will be discussed. Posture is vital in motor systems as a precursor to all movements. Maintaining speech articulators in stable postures provides a motor foundation for all speech sounds and movements. Learn how lingual postures shape speech sounds, how postural positions can help in therapy, and how posture governs facial expressions, phonation, and velopharyngeal port control. Prepare to change how you view speech!

Ep. 62: The Art of Accessing & Applying Amazing Materials & Activities from the Library - Megan Panatier, MS, CCC-SLP

Guest: Megan Panatier, MS, CCC-SLP - After visiting all 72 branches of the Los Angeles Public Library with her daughter, Megan was blown away at the quality and quantity of the FREE materials and activities available for speech and language therapy and literacy use. She tells of their journey, what she learned and how she applies the rich resources in her therapy to enhance reading enjoyment and verbal participation.

Ep. 61: Essential Interdisciplinary Management of Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing - Nicole Archambault, EdS, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC

Guest: Nicole Archambault, EdS, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC - Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can jeopardize development, performance, and health. SDB is within the SLP’s scope of practice. We have knowledge of oral functions (speaking/swallowing/chewing), craniofacial structures, respiration, oral rest postures, and executive skills, SLPs can help mitigate SDB. We’ll cover research and management strategies within an interdisciplinary framework.

Ep. 60: Speak Up: How to Improve Speech Clarity for Those with Down Syndrome - Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP

Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - Speech clarity is possible for many of those with Down syndrome. New therapy techniques in motor speech, voice, and executive functioning are emerging and present viable options. Several were discussed: How to generate active engagement, voice-based methods, and how to encourage frequent practice to accelerate speech and language used to improve comprehension for success and independence.