Episodes

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 need for instrumentals hasn't gone away, but the biggest national providers of mobile FEEs has...So what happens when we know we can't solely rely on bedside exams and access to gold standard tools is limited? Let's talk about it. Citations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Skilled nursing facility consolidated billing. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ⁠https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/skilled-nursing-facility-snf-consolidated-billing⁠ American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2023). The case for FEES in skilled nursing facilities. ⁠https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.OTP.28072023.fees-snf-slp.36/full/⁠ Weldon, K., Kelchner, L., Si…

What does your oral mech exam really tell you? In this episode of Speech Talk, Eva and Emily get down and dirty (with tongue depressors, not drama) and explore why the phrase 'say ahh' is so iconic. They cover what is a normal oral cavity for our geri crowd, how to link findings to clinical hypotheses, and how to improve your diagnostic skills even when patients can’t cooperate as much as you might like. If you’ve ever opened someone's mouth and wondered, “...Is that normal?” This one’s for you You’ll learn: What the oral mech exam actually reveals (and what it doesn’t) Common pitfalls: symmetry obsession, passive exams, and more How to link oral mech findings to real clinical hypotheses Normal vs …Definitely not normal oral structures Why “ahh” is more than just a sound

To PEG or not to PEG? In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva confront the clinical gray zones around percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placements in older adults. They unpack what PEG tubes actually do (and don’t do), their potential impact on malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia, and how to talk to families and care teams when emotions and ethics collide. You’ll also learn how to interpret key research on PEG tube outcomes and what guidelines say about feeding tubes in dementia. No guilt, no judgment—just smart, compassionate guidance from two SLPs who’ve had those hard conversations many times before. Articles Cited: ⁠⁠Rahnemai-Azar et. al. “Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: Indications, technique, complications and management⁠⁠ Freebies: ⁠PEG Tube Badge Buddy⁠ https://www.podpage.com/dashboard/speech-talk/pages/627463/ Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠  Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the⁠ Huma…

Training medication management? In this episode, we address the challenges of medication management for older adults with cognitive impairments, sharing our insights from high-turnover facilities. We review the research on medication self-management skills, revealing significant difficulties these individuals face. Our discussion highlights the importance of comprehensive education, cognitive screenings, and family involvement in medication management. We brainstorm effective strategies, such as hands-on kits and tailored assessments, while exploring cognitive errors and minimizing distractions during tasks. Our hope is that this will empower you in your practice to break out some medication bottles and challenge those clients!

Two speech-language pathologists walk into a podcast. There’s no punchline, but for some reason we’re still laughing. Emily and Eva embark on reading the research so you don’t have to. If you’ve ever squinted at a pillbox, questioned your own functional goals, or wondered how to sneak more clinical education into your life without actually reading a journal article… we got ya! New episodes every other week-ish. Probably while you’re eating lunch in your car.