Voice Episodes

Having to do with the sound produced when speaking or singing
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Aug. 11, 2026

Don't Fear the Tracheostomy

No need to fear (the tracheostomy) Speech Talk is here! We're diving into one of the most medically complex—and often intimidating—areas of speech-language pathology: tracheostomy rehabilitation. We break down the research on how speech-language pathologists are involved (or unfortunately, often not involved) in tracheostomy care and why early SLP intervention can make a significant difference in communication, swallowing, and successful decannulation. We discuss speaking valves, swallow evaluations, common barriers to rehabilitation, and what every clinician should know when working with patients with tracheostomies across acute care and rehabilitation settings. Plus, we cover this week's SLP headlines, including: New evidence linking dysphagia as a primary predictor of malnutrition in head and neck cancer. Research showing circumlocution may help identify very mild aphasia. An exciting AI model improving dysarthria detection through speech analysis. Whether you're a student, m…