A patient survives a stroke, starts rehab, and begins making progress. But what if their greatest risk isn't behind them? In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva dive into the often-overlooked topic of recurrent stroke....
What happens when we can’t stop aspiration?In this episode, Eva and Emily talk about chronic aspiration and what happens when small, repeated events start to add up. From inflammation and airway damage to serious complications like pneumonitis and lung abscess, we break down what’s really happe…
Ever feel like you’re fighting your patient just to get through a session?Explore Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a framework for speech therapy—not psychotherapy, but a way to rethink how we approach resistance, engagement, and progress.Using the metaphor of “the river and the r…
When we talk about dysphagia, “choking” is often used as a worst-case scenario—but how often does it actually happen, who’s really at risk, and what can we actually do about it?This week on Speech Talk, Emily and Eva dive into the research article “Dying for a Meal” to unpack the realities of c…
Research is supposed to guide our practice—but what happens when we can’t actually access it?In this episode of Speech Talk, Eva and Emily get into the reality of paywalled research and what it means for evidence-based practice in speech-language pathology. Breaking down the article “The Effect o…
Does a “wet” voice really mean your patient is aspirating?In this episode, Eva and Emily unpack research that challenges one of the most common clinical signs used in dysphagia assessment, wet vocal quality. Turns out, what we’ve been trained to hear might not be as reliable as we think.The nee…
Thickened liquids are one of the most common recommendations in dysphagia management—but are they always the safest option?In this episode of Speech Talk, we examine the complexities of thickened liquids in dysphagia management, sharing personal experiences and case studies. We discuss misconce…
This episode delves into the intricacies of Huntington's disease, derived from a recent patient encounter that underscored the challenges faced by speech-language pathologists. We provide a historical overview, tracing the condition back to George Huntington's 1872 paper, and discuss its neurodegen…
In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva dive into cervical osteophytes (aka bone spurs in the neck) and how they can mechanically impact swallowing. We break down what osteophytes are, why they form, and how they can present just like “typical” dysphagia — globus, coughing, choking, wet vocal…
Setting the stage for dementia care: aka staging! Emily and Eva to examine dementia staging and its impact on care. We share our personal experiences in acute care/SNF/LTC and emphasize the importance of adaptation and effective communication for patients and families.Discussing the mild, moderat…
In this episode, co-hosts Emily and Eva discuss the vital role of prehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients, emphasizing its importance for improving patient outcomes. They highlight the need for standardized protocols and share alarming statistics on swallowing dysfunction post-treatment. …
A very Geri Problem: TBI (traumatic brain injury) in Aging. In this episode of we share insights on the trends of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among older adults and their implications for our practice as speech-language pathologists. Our discussion includes an exploration of various TBI typ…
This week on Speech Talk, we’re breaking down two of our favorite fast and evidence-backed dysphagia screeners: the TOMASS and the Yale Swallow Protocol. If you’ve ever been buried in a busy SNF day and wished for a quick but...
In this episode, we spill the tea on the impact of productivity standards on moral distress in allied healthcare within skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). We share personal stories and reflect on Akyko West's research, highlighting the ethical dilemmas that arise from unrealistic expectations. Our …
DOSS It Matter? (Spoiler: Yes.) In this episode, Emily and Eva explore the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS), an assessment tool for quantifying swallowing disorders. They discuss the history and importance of the DOSS in bringing objectivity and consistency to dysphagia evaluations, high…
You've tested your patient and they are sitting at a 25/30 on the MoCA. They have an MCI.. now what?In this episode, we explore mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that sits between normal aging and dementia. We discuss the nuances of MCI, its subtypes, and the critical need for early …
In this episode, I, Eva, alongside co-host Emily, discuss the often-overlooked topic of puree diets in speech therapy. Wondering- Should food be pretty? Does food presentation help with patients' perceptions of unappetizing puree food and share insights from a study revealing that molded puree enha…
In this episode, we examine the transformative role of AI [large language models (LLMs)] like ChatGPT in speech therapy and clinical practice. While we didn't have Chat write our episode, we do discuss how ChatGPT and other AI help our practice.We delve into how these AI tools enhance clinical …
In this episode, Eva and Emily discuss the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), a vital dysphagia screener for adults that assesses swallowing difficulties through patient self-reports. They highlight the importance of interpreting scores accurately, particularly in identifying clinically significant i…
In this episode, we delve into the intricate relationship between hearing loss and dementia, addressing a topic that is ever-present in skilled nursing environments. As speech therapists, we share our anecdotal experiences where the challenges of communicating with elderly patients often lead to un…
In this episode of Speech Talk , Eva and Emily explore how GERD and dysphagia impact on swallowing, nutrition, and patient care in skilled nursing facilities. Learn how to recognize GERD-related symptoms, advocate for proper ...
This week, we’re diving into one of the murkiest waters of SLP practice: cognitive interventions for people with dementia. When you hear “Well, can’t you just work on following directions?”—do you cry inside? Same. That’s why we’re unpacking a meta-analysis to give you the research-backed confidenc…
Get ready to brush up on your oral care knowledge! 🦷 In this episode, Emily and Eva explore the world of oral hygiene products in SNF care and highlight the Lemon swab. Talking about what works, what doesn’t, and what might actually be harmful. Whether you're an SLP, nurse, OT, or just really into …
In this episode, we dive into the importance of interdisciplinary communication and how tools like SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) can enhance patient safety and care quality. We explore findings from the research article "Impact of the communication and patient hand-off to…