First Bite: A Speech Therapy Podcast

190: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and Pediatric Dysphagia Jun 29, 2022

Guest: Raquel Garcia, SLPD, CCC-SLP, CNT, BCS-S - In this course, the presenter discusses hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and how this devastating diagnosis can result in pediatric dysphagia. We learn about new resources and organizations, such as “Hope for HIE”, that are educating and advocating interprofessional practice partners and caregivers about the most current research to advance the quality of care for even our littlest patients.

189: Mentoring the Next Generation of PFD Clinicians Jun 22, 2022

Guest: Jennifer Casteix, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, discuss how to mentor the next generation of pediatric feeding disorder clinicians. Do you have a waitlist a mile-long for your services? Do you have a calling to do “more” for our profession, but are unsure of where to begin? Do you have a bit of wit along with your PFD wisdom and a desire to share it? Then join Jennifer as she inspires us to take up the mantle of Clinical Supervision and Mentorship! Learn an update on the current state of affairs of pediatric feeding disorder coursework in graduate school to understand the knowledge base students are coming to us with, and then embrace the conversation regarding different adult learning styles as strategies to effortlessly train our profession’s future.

188: Playful versus Play-Based Language Therapy Jun 16, 2022

In this episode, Michelle and Erin will focus on clarifying the differences between “playful” and “play-based” language therapy and how this approach can make your therapy more functional and fun! The power of “play” is one of the most powerful tools in our toolboxes even recognized and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. But, how do we embrace this approach effectively and overcome the barriers in our sessions? Erin and Michelle will clarify misconceptions and inspire listeners with an “easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy” evidence-based plan to assist in their next therapy sessions.

187: Implementing Neurodiversity Affirming Intervention Jun 08, 2022

Guests: Kylie Jeffrey, MS, OTR/L & Serena Murison, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode is an hour dedicated to understanding what neurodiversity-affirming intervention is. The guests explore some evidence-based sources of information regarding this fundamental shift in clinical service delivery, and most importantly functional strategies to effectively implement this approach.

186: Sensory Integration for SLPs Jun 01, 2022

Guest: Jessie L. Ginsburg, M.S., CCC-SLP - Jessie joins the ladies of First Bite and explores what sensory integration is and why speech-language pathologists need to understand its impact. They will also discuss the speech-language pathologists’ role in implementing sensory strategies as well as describe two strategies for improving regulation during pediatric speech therapy sessions.

185: Cerebral Palsy: Impact for Functional Communication and Pediatric Feeding Disorder May 20, 2022

Michelle and Erin discuss how a little one’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) can impact functional communication and potentially result in a pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). It is important for a clinician to understand how the four major groups of CP differentiate from one another because each presentation comes with its own treatment considerations given unique comorbidities. Join Michelle and Erin as they deep dive into how the four classifications of CP can impact access to functional communication and feeding.

184: Investigating the Competency for Evaluation and Treatment of Dysphagia May 11, 2022

Guest: Ed Bice, MEd., CCC-SLP - Have you ever taken a course and thought, “Wow! Yes! This is what my patients need!” and then felt a little embarrassed at how you were previously treating their dysphagia deficits? Why do we have those dysphagia competency concerns, to begin with? If you have ever asked the “why,” then join Michelle and Ed as they explore the limitations in professional preparedness. Ed walks us through how limitations in academic coursework (even down to textbook selection) impact professional preparedness for clinical competency but then offers functional solutions to remedy the situation.

183: Embracing the EBP Triangle for PFD Holistically May 04, 2022

Guest: Rachel Hahn Arkenberg, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC - In this course, the guest shares a dynamic systems approach to studying the neurophysiological development of swallowing in the context of family, culture, language, and motor development. Rachel explains the barriers to obtaining high-quality evidence for treatment of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD), challenges us to critically assess the evidence that is available, and then explains how research from allied health fields can be effective in treatment.

182: IPP for Better Beginnings for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Apr 27, 2022

Guests: Cara Smithwick, MLIS, BS, and Mary Reaves, MRC - The guests discuss all things collaboration for advocacy and education with deaf/hard of hearing children and their caregivers. Cara and Mary, who founded Beginnings SC as a labor of love for improved education and empowerment of parents/caregivers of deaf/hard of hearing children, start the hour outlining the steps taken to create a life-changing non-profit organization. If you have ever wondered how to improve your role as the SLP on the team for a deaf/hard of hearing child, then join Cara and Mary as they inspire us all with the functional support systems/strategies used for the thousands of lives they serve and impact and most importantly what steps we can take to improve our interprofessional practice for these little ones.

181: Embracing Interprofessional Practice for PFD - Jaclyn Pederson, MHI and Cuyler Romeo, M.O.T., OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC Apr 20, 2022

Feeding Matters is known internationally for placing the caregiver at the heart of the interprofessional practice (IPP) team for a little one with a PFD but do you know why this is so critical? Do you know why it is vital for each PFD IPP team to have an occupational therapist also involved in the little one’s care? Our guests will share current evidence-based practice for why these team members are critical in a patient’s care and offer functional strategies for engaging in interprofessional practice.

180: Messy Play, PFD, the Schools, and You Apr 13, 2022

Guests: ToniAnn Gambella Loftus, MS. CCC-SLP/TSSLD and Liza Bernabeo, MS, CCC-SLP/TSSLD - This course discusses the evidence behind implementing messy play for the treatment of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) in schools. Are you a school-based clinician new to the world of PFD? Or are you a seasoned veteran who is new to the world of child-led and play-based therapy? If you said yes to either question or fall somewhere in between, then this is for you. Join ToniAnn and Liza as they share how they established a child-led, play-based PFD treatment program within their school and how it opened doors for dynamic and adventurous eaters to walk through.

179: Embracing Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Apr 06, 2022

Guest: Meg Proctor, MS, OTR/L - The guest shares her passion for what neurodiversity-affirming practice means and why it should matter to the pediatric speech-language pathologist. She guides us through a crucial conversation about what practice shifts we need to make when working with autistic kids, what barriers clinicians can face when implementing strengths-based neurodiversity-affirming practices, and most critically, how we can overcome these barriers to make therapy functional and joyful while embracing and respecting each child we work with.

178: The DuBard Association Method for Dyslexia and Communication Disorders Mar 30, 2022

Guest: Missy Schraeder, PhD, CCC-SLP, CALT-QI, C-SLDS - If you're an SLP who works with preschoolers and elementary-age children that have a severe and profound communication disorder and/or dyslexia, then this is for you. In this course, Dr. Missy Schraeder and Michelle spend time sharing functional strategies that can be implemented with your patients tomorrow.

177: The Purpose of Play in Treating Pediatric Feeding Disorder Mar 23, 2022

Michelle and Erin discuss the purpose of play in treating pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). Erin, who holds a Basic DIR® Floortime Provider Certification and a TBRI® Trained Practitioner, highlights the importance of play. Did you know that play has a therapeutic purpose and role in treatment, especially for pediatric feeding disorder? Join in to learn more about play and its therapeutic role.

176: Servant Leadership for the Speech-Language Pathologist Mar 16, 2022

Guest: Brooke Beilman, MS, CCC-SLP - In this course, Brooke shares insight into different leadership styles, her favorite resources to learn how to grow as a leader, strategies for working through differences in leadership styles, and most importantly why leadership growth is important to the clinician in the field.

175: Addressing Disparities in Healthcare Mar 09, 2022

Guest: Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS - As clinicians in speech-language pathology and audiology, we are tasked with providing services to all ages, ethnicities, gender expressions/identifications, races, national origins, and disabilities. During the last decade, more awareness and emphasis has been placed on identifying and understanding health disparities. Renee is here to inspire us to better understand how we as clinicians can support and foster change, by first defining health disparities and then identifying what our active role looks like. By providing resources for further education and policy impacts, we can move towards eliminating modifiable disparities: the things we can change.

174: Evidence-Based Practice for Speech Sound Disorders Mar 02, 2022

Guest: Amy Graham, MS, CCC-SLP - Do you love the phonemic alphabet? Dream about deep analysis of speech sound error patterns? Or just love unlocking the mysteries behind the differences between articulation disorders versus phonological disorders versus motor speech disorders? If you said “Yes” to all of the above, then this is the hour for you! If you said “No” to all of the above, (maybe panic slightly and break out into a cold palm sweat), but you still need to know the most current evidence-based practice for speech sound disorders (SSD), well then join us for this informative course.

173: Community Engagement for Caregivers Feb 23, 2022

Guest: Megan Branham, LMSW - In this episode, Michelle is joined by her favorite child advocate and social worker, Megan Branham LMSW, to discuss a topic near to both their hearts, that is, community support for caregivers. If our caregivers are in crisis or even in a time of need, they cannot be fully present and engaged in speech therapy for the little ones we are called to serve. So, where does that leave us? What can we do? Megan and Michelle spend this precious hour discussing strategies for holding a crucial conversation to determine what needs are at critical mass, community partners that are available to support food and shelter needs, and community partners to help with educational and medical conditions.

172: SLP Role in Language and Literacy Feb 16, 2022

Guest: Angie Neal, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by the dynamic Angie Neal, MS CCC-SLP, for an hour to discuss the intersection of language and literacy. Angie, who keeps every audience on the edge of their seat with laughter and love, shares her extensive knowledge on how an SLP can become involved in a child’s journey in literacy. In addition, she explains how phonological awareness can impact literacy, who to refer to in an academic/medical setting and why their role is critical when a child presents with concerns for dyslexia.

171: #CallitPFD Takeaways: ASHA 2021 Rising United Convention Highlights Feb 09, 2022

Michelle and her favorite co-host Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC, relive the best parts of the 2021 ASHA Convention: Rising United related to all things pediatric feeding disorder. To celebrate the inaugural pediatric feeding and swallowing disorder track, Michelle and Erin attended several courses and are bringing their favorite new facts directly to you! So, whether your current clinical setting is working in the NICU, Early Intervention, or even a local public school, the ladies of First Bite have you covered. To start, they’ll share the highlights of ethically implementing the newish PFD ICD-10 codes, then discuss how the differences between our settings can be overcome through open dialogue, and round out with ethical considerations for implementing a treatment plan PFD in the LEA. Let Michelle and Erin share the inspiration they received from the great minds and hearts at ASHA 2021 with you.

170: Ethics for PFD: Evaluations through Treatment Dec 16, 2021

Guest: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC - Today on the First Bite Podcast we are running through some very important information for our community and listeners! We will be tackling the subject of ethics for Pediatric Feeding Disorders and going over some of the new PFD codes that have been introduced. We also offer some helpful examples and implications, as well as the best resources for you to get on top of this important stuff! Even with the best intentions, you can find yourself in some tricky situations if the regulations are not adhered to, and putting in the time and energy to stay abreast of the field's standards is very necessary. We talk about the best practices to using the codes, including coding backward from what you are officially and specifically treating, to concerns around communication and confidentiality, and much more! So to hear all about where to start with staying HIPAA compliant and offering the best service to those special small clients, join us on the show today!

169: Triple Delight: When a Certified OT, RD and CLC is Treating PFD Dec 01, 2021

Guest: Bianca Roe, OTD, OTR/L, RDN, LDN, CLC - Bianca Roe is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Clinical Pediatric Registered Dietitian, and has almost a whole alphabet worth of letters behind her name! She is a certified OTD, OTR/L, RDN/LDN, and CLC working in the PFD space and we have her on the show today to unpack exactly what that means, how she made her way into this unique role, and why it is important to look beyond your immediate field and work to improve your practice and care. In our conversation with Bianca, we talk about the basics of what she does, looking at what the job of a registered dietician entails, and contrasting that with the role of a nutritionist. We also talk about her desire to become a qualified occupational therapist along with her work in feeding. She also talks about switching hats and how she knows when to step into which role. We get to tackle the subject of interprofessional learning, and how beneficial this can be to your expertise and the care that you provide, so to hear all this from a young powerhouse, who we cannot wait to have back on the podcast again, listen in!

168: Evolution in Practice for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders Nov 17, 2021

Guest: Memorie Gosa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S - Seven weeks after we obtained access to the new PFD ICD-10 codes, the annual ASHA Convention will host its very first PFDs Feeding and Swallowing track. To honor this monumental event, today we are joined by Memorie Gosa who served as the chair of the inaugural 2021 Pediatric Normal and Disordered Feeding and Swallowing Topic Committee. Memorie Gosa is a world-renowned Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, and Associate Professor and Chair of the Communicative Disorders Department at the University of Alabama. In this episode, she joins us to walk us through the history of PFDs and dysphagia. She explains how the PFD world came to be, the progress of clinical training programs on dysphagia at a university level in recent years, and the evolving trends in evidence-based treatment. Tuning in you’ll hear why treating pediatric dysphagia has to be multidisciplinary, expert advice for anyone wanting to engage in IPP, and insight into where you can find helpful resources for evidence-based treatments. With the ASHA 2021 Convention upon us, find out what you can expect and what master classes you should not miss. Tune in for all this and more!

167: Filling your EBP SLP Cup via Clinical Case Studies with “The Cup of Council” SLP Trio! Nov 03, 2021

Guests: Cup of Councel - Today we have a special roundtable conversation dealing with helpful case studies, and are joined by the three wonderful hosts of the Cup of Council Podcast! Amy Gundlach, MA, CCC-SLP, Katie Joyner Robinson, MA, CCC-SLP, and Brittany Schultz, MA, CCC-SLP sit down with us and share some enlightening experiences that you are not going to want to miss. These three speech-language pathologists have a combined total of over 30 years of experience in a number of settings and we get to speak about the importance of thinking outside the box and developing new types of therapy while shining a light on their most important moments of professional growth. The conversation covers examples of new types of innovative approaches, and we also get a taster for their amazing podcast, which we recommend you check out as soon as you finish listening to this! So if you want to hear this open-hearted and enlightening chat, dealing with our strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between, join us and catch it all!

166: The Fabulous Fed Life of a J-Tube User Oct 27, 2021

Guest: Breanne Dalton - Complications that arise from issues in the gut are plentiful and complex, something that we in the world of feeding disorders are all too familiar with. Here on the show today to share about her work and own journey with digestive problems is Breanne Dalton from the University of Southern Mississippi! The life-altering first-hand experiences that Breanne has had have enabled her to connect with little ones on a very deep level, and serve them with a real understanding and empathy. We celebrate Breanne and her heroic work, how she has turned her own needs around feeding tubes into a way to help others! In our conversation, we get to hear from Breanne about J-Tubes and G-Tubes, the important steps on her path to where she is today, her attitude towards normalizing feeding issues, and why food and eating are so central to the human experience and building relationships. So, to hear it all from our great guest, be sure to listen in with us today!

165: Executive Functioning Disorder for Pediatrics Oct 20, 2021

Guest: Sucheta Kamath - As SLP’s, we tend to focus on our specific area of expertise; language or speech production or cognition, for example. However, our guest on the show today, the wonderful Sucheta Kamath, believes that this lack of a big picture perspective is problematic and that there is a better way to do things. Sucheta has focused her career on the functioning of the brain as a whole, and the intersection between brain functioning, psychology, sociology, and education. After listening to this episode, you’ll have a better understanding of executive functioning, metacognition, and the variety of factors that impact these. Sucheta shares the strategies that she utilizes to help children master executive functioning, how to determine whether a child has executive dysfunctions, as well as a few stories which highlight what can go wrong when our executive function isn’t operating at its full capacity.

164: The One Where We Get Acquainted Oct 13, 2021

Guest: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC - This is our 164th episode and until now we have not had an episode dedicated to our backstory, and some of the silly things that also make up who we are, so we decided to spend today answering some of your questions and helping our audience getting to know us a little better! We still find some time for some serious thoughts on the life of an SLP but you can expect some talk about movies, our favorite character from Friends, which podcasts get us the most excited, and much more! Other questions we answer include how we first met, dealing with the demands of work and finding time for family, alternative career paths, and the best memories from our careers in speech therapy. So, if you have ever felt like you would like to get to know Erin and Michelle just a little bit better, and fill in some of the gaps, this is the show for you!

163: Freddie the Fly Buzzing By with Kimberly Delude Sep 22, 2021

Guest: Kimberly Delude, MA, CCC-SLP - As SLPs, there is only so much that we can do in the short weekly sessions we have with our patients. That is why the activities that kiddos do outside of our therapy rooms are so important to their speech and language development. The research on this is clear, but there is a major time lag between research and implementation. Fortunately, some SLPs are ahead of the curve, and in today’s episode, we are joined by one of them. Kimberly Delude, MA, CCC-SLP, realized early on in her career the importance of involving caregivers in their children’s SLP journeys. This realization inspired Kimberly’s second series of award-winning books, Fairy Tales 2.0 (her first was Freddie the Fly, which she was motivated to write when she noticed the lack of child friendly resources targeting social skills). In our discussion, we cover a variety of examples of how parents can incorporate speech and language activities in their pre-existing routines; a concept called functional carryover. Kimberly also shares some of the strategies she uses in her own sessions, including her take on narrative retelling and her use of self-rating feedback sessions.

162: All Things Speech Sounds and Dyslexia with the CLaSS Lab Sep 15, 2021

Guest: Dr. Kelly Farquharson - Scientists now know more than ever about dyslexia, but there are still a lot of misconceptions about this common learning difference. In this episode of the First Bite Podcast, we are debunking some popular myths surrounding dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities with today’s special guest, Dr. Kelly Farquharson! Kelly is a speech-language pathologist, associate professor, and director of the Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab at Florida State University. She studies the cognitive, linguistic, orthographic, and environmental factors that influence how children with speech and language disorders acquire literacy skills. Specifically, her research examines the intersection between speech sound production and literacy acquisition and, in this episode, she shares her unique insight with us about the very real intersection between speech sounds and dyslexia. Believe it or not, dyslexia is a phonological impairment disorder, not a visual one, which means that SLPs can and should play a very important role in its assessment and treatment! Listen in to learn more about why phonetics matter to clinicians, the importance of taking a code-based approach, and why strategies like eye tracking exercises aren’t necessarily helpful. We also touch on the value of both real word and non-word assessments, phonological input, and collaboration between SLPs and teachers, and Kelly emphasizes the need for patience, persistence, and advocacy when it comes to addressing dyslexia in your institution. This is a fascinating discussion that you won’t want to miss, so make sure to tune in today!

161: Gaining a Voice on the Playground Sep 08, 2021

Guest: Brianna Emanuel, MC, CCC-SLP - Children who use personal AAC devices face a unique challenge on the playground. When playing outside with their classmates, taking an AAC device with them means that device can easily get broken or lost but, without it, they have no means to communicate with their friends or teachers. Today’s guest set out to address this challenge in her local community. Brianna Emanuel is an inspiring SLP working in the Appleton Area School District in Wisconsin who is passionate about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Together with Talk To Me Technologies (TTMT), she created a custom AAC board and had it installed at her local adaptive playground. This incredible action gives countless children a voice while they're playing with their peers, allowing nonverbal children to easily communicate without the use of personal AAC devices. In today’s episode, Brianna shares her journey to becoming an SLP and gives us a glimpse into the process of working with TTMT to design a custom AAC board with inclusion in mind. She also highlights the importance of coaching for parents and teachers and the benefits of long-term loans and trials when finding the right AAC device for yourself, your students, or your children, as well as how she handles the daily challenges that come with working with nonverbal children and children with special communication needs. Tune in today for a conversation full of passion, inspiration, and functional guidance with real-life superhero, Brianna Emanuel!

160: A Functional Pediatric How-To-Guide in Collaborating Between OT and SLP with Karen McWaters Sep 03, 2021

Guest: Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC and Karen McWaters, MOT, OTR/L - In today’s show, Erin and Michelle are joined by Karen McWaters to discuss the very important topic of interprofessional collaboration. Healthcare professionals generally tend to silo themselves in their own disciplines, and according to the Autism Research Journal, there are four main barriers to communication which exist. This disconnect is very unfortunate because, as you will hear in this episode, collaboration across professions has the potential to be a very powerful force. Erin, who is an SLP, and Karen, who is an OT, worked concurrently with a child who, when he first started therapy, was communicating using signs. A year into his sessions, he was asking to be dressed up like the Pixar lamp and trying to find a dark room he could “light up!” With palpable joy, Karen and Erin share the story of this boy’s progress, which highlights the benefits that arose from their commitment to working together and learning from each other, and they offer valuable advice for anyone interested in doing the same.

159: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work for PFDs in Public Schools Aug 25, 2021

Guest: Dr. Kristen West, M.A., CCC-SLP - In today’s episode of First Bite, we are delighted to welcome back Dr. Kristen West, M.A., CCC-SLP, to discuss her work as an SLP in public schools. Kristen is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and is currently also pursuing her educational doctorate at Slippery Rock University. In our conversation with Kristen, we delve into the challenges of setting up a program in public schools and how her journey led her to work in that space. We spend some time appreciating the role that advocacy plays when it comes to special education services in schools and how our host Michelle Dawson, in collaboration with Angie Neal, was able to pass a proposal that countless children in South Carolina will benefit from for years to come. Listening in, you'll hear Michelle break down the many aspects of working as an SLP in public schools and what she has learned throughout her career. She expands on the inextricable relationship between nutrition and learning, why cafeterias pose a unique challenge to children with PFDs, and why teamwork between nurses, teachers, and parents is essential. We loved having Kristen back on the show and we know you’ll find the conversation as informative and inspiring as we did! For all this and much more, join us today!

158: Childhood ACEs and the SLP Aug 18, 2021

Guest: Megan Branham, LMSW - In the past thirty years, our knowledge of trauma and its effects have progressed significantly, but there is still plenty of research that needs to be done to further deepen our understanding. In today’s episode of First Bite, we get together with Megan Branham to discuss adverse childhood experiences, known as ACEs. We unpack how our knowledge of trauma is integrated into the field of SLPs, pediatrics, specialists, and social workers and the many challenges inherent to that mission. Megan holds a Master's in Social Work and is a graduate of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Leadership for State-Based Advocates. She currently serves as VP Strategy for North, a media company based out of South Carolina. In our conversation with Megan, we discuss how ACEs first gained attention in the 1990s after new research found that these experiences led to a myriad of adverse health outcomes from learning disabilities to mental health problems, to chronic health conditions. We also discuss new insights into intergenerational trauma and how its biological impact alters human physiology on a cellular level, increasing the likelihood of adverse health outcomes and other issues. We cover a variety of topics that practitioners are confronted with regularly when it comes to dealing with trauma, like how to protect yourself when your personal trauma is triggered, and engaging in advocacy when you recognize policy failures. Join us for this fascinating and in-depth discussion on ACEs and how to be trauma-informed!

157: The Bridge: Research to Practice for PFD Aug 11, 2021

Guest: Dr. Georgia Malandraki, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S - As we continue this amazing journey through our tricky yet important field, we are joined today by a real leader from the field! Dr. Georgia Malandraki, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is an associate professor of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University and a Board-Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. In her research, she focuses on investigating developmental swallowing neuroplasticity and developing rehabilitative and telehealth interventions for dysphagia. In addition to this, she is the research director of the Purdue I-EaT Swallowing Research Laboratory and Clinic and has served on editorial boards for ASHA journals, as an editor for the American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, and is the current president-elect of the Dysphagia Research Society. In this awesome conversation, we get to really go deep with Dr. Malandraki, talking about her most recent work on the developmental stages of the nervous system, some very helpful papers and resources that she recommends, muscle tone issues in infants, and the gaps that she has noticed in the pediatric care systems, that still persist today. For all this, and a whole lot more great insight, where it is so badly needed, listen in with us to hear what Dr. Malandraki has to say!

156: Been There, Done That! Interview Insights from an SLP Aug 04, 2021

Guest: Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by her favorite podcasting cohost, Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC…to tackle all things job hunting from the SLP’s perspective. So, if you’re on hunt for your dream clinical practicum, dream CF, or a dreamy job switch, then tune in as Michelle and Erin share functional advice on what clinical considerations you should consider for that coveted interview. From case study questions to have prepared, common clinical questions that you could be asked, and even social skills to demonstrate…or not demonstrate in the interview, Michelle and Erin are going to cover it all from the SLP’s perspective! Bonus round…stay tuned next month for a follow-up episode with the one and only Morgan Mitchell with Elevation Healthcare to tackle all the HR details too!

155: The Ethics of Evolving Your Scope of Practice Jul 28, 2021

Guest: Renee Garrett, MSED, CCC-SLP, CBIS - After watching her father struggle through the after effects of a stroke, Renee Garrett’s passion for SLP was awakened, and she has spent the past 12 years working in a range of medical settings. In today’s episode, our discussion focuses on the ethical challenges that arise when an SLP moves from one type of care to another. For example, an SLP working in a school requires a very different set of skills compared to an SLP working in an ICU, and assuming that the skills are transferable can be dangerous for you as the professional, as well as for your patients. Among other things, we talk about the elements that you need to take into consideration before switching settings, how regulations differ between states, and where you can access a range of resources that will help you with your transition.

154: Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes: An Institute for Change Jun 30, 2021

Guest: Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA - Having a child with feeding challenges can be anxiety-inducing for parents and children alike. Feeding strategies and interventions are synonymous with pressure, which only perpetuates the discomfort around eating. Marsha Dunn Klein OTR/L, Med, FAOTA, joins us to share her Get Permission Approach, and to talk about the newly-founded Get Permission Institute. In this episode, Marsha talks about Get Permission Approach's principles and shares the impetus for creating it. She saw from her work in feeding that the relational aspects of food and eating were often neglected despite how important they are to healthy feeding habits. We hear about responsive feeding and how she fosters children's autonomy while building confidence, connection, trust, and consistency. An incredibly important part of helping children with these challenges is providing opportunities, and Marsha walks us through two case studies of children she has worked with. Rather than leading with a heavy therapeutic approach, she helped parents provide organic opportunities to pique children's interests and let them explore for themselves. As the conversation wraps up, Marsha also highlights the value of letting children mouth, and she also shares some of the exciting events Get Permission is hosting in the months to come.

153: Respectful Healthy Boundaries in Early Intervention Jun 23, 2021

Guest: Natasha McNeill, MCD, CCC-SLP - SLPs are ethically bound to practice within their area of expertise, but some often don’t and this can have drastic effects on patients. Today we invite Natasha McNeill to discuss this issue of scope of practice encroachment and hear her weigh in on how it is often early interventionists who are guilty of this. Natasha is an SLP specializing in pediatric feeding disorders and our conversation begins with a story about how she fell in love with this area of expertise. She lays out the context for our discussion next, highlighting the problem of non-licensed members of individual family service plan teams, often early interventionists, giving recommendations that are outside their roles and responsibilities. Natasha makes the important point that while this is irresponsible across the board and often steps on the toes of SLPs who play a role later in the treatment process, if an ill-informed recommendation is made about feeding treatment particularly, this can cause serious harm to the patient. We then take a deep dive into the types of things that early interventionists should be doing, while also getting into different examples of problems that can arise when they start to practice outside of their fields. Our conversation also covers the issue of lack of regulation whereby the qualifications required to become an early interventionist are too broad and there is no overarching governing body in many states. Tune in for this urgent conversation today.

152: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Jun 16, 2021

Guest: Erin Forward, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC - Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”, and these are words that ring true for both Michelle and Erin. Join the Ladies of “First Bite” as they spend this hour sharing their favorite evidenced-based courses, taught by the giants in our interprofessional practice pediatric feeding disorder world, such that we can all see farther for the betterment of our patients. If you have ever wondered which courses will grow your EBP triangle for assessment and treatment with patients in the NICU, infants, toddlers, early child, or which courses focus on interprofessional practice for PFD, then this is the hour for you.

151: PFD from the Perspective of a Passionate Pediatrician Parent with Dr. Tessa Gonzalez Jun 10, 2021

Guest: Tessa Gonzalez, MD - Today’s episode centers around an intense and personal conversation with a very special guest who speaks candidly from the perspective of both a pediatrician and the passionate parent of a child who suffers from a rare genetic disorder that contributed to pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). Dr. Tessa Gonzalez is a close friend, a pediatrician with over 10 years of experience, and a mother to two beautiful girls, the eldest of which has been on a long journey with PFD. Tessa is also a volunteer with Feeding Matters, where she shares her invaluable experience with families navigating their way through the often confusing and difficult world of PFD. She is a fierce advocate for her daughter and is passionate about helping other families advocate for their loved ones too, which she explains in this episode. Tuning in, you’ll learn more about the importance of inter-professional education, collaboration, and communication, and Tessa shares her personal journey with PFD and why she believes that a feeding tube was the best possible solution for her family at the time. Make sure not to miss this episode!

150: Dysphagia Awareness with Dysphagia Outreach Project Jun 02, 2021

The Dysphagia Outreach Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide meaningful assistance to individuals affected by dysphagia. Today on the show we invite Allie Mataras, Amanda Weissberg, Allison Boyer, Jessica Lasky, Hillary Cooper, and Michelle Coffaro from the Dysphagia Outreach Project’s Board of Directors to talk about how they have come together to work on this project as volunteers and the great things they are doing for the community. The original idea came from Hillary and she kicks things off by talking about how she was disturbed by a general lack of access to supplies experienced by patients and how she wanted to take the initiative to fix this. Hillary teamed up with Michelle and Jessica and our next two guests weigh in on the contributions they made to get the idea off the ground. Jessica speaks about the role she plays in the organization in the fields of education and advocacy and the Michelle shares her responsibilities as VP of operations. Michelle runs the food bank in Cincinnati and we hear about the incredible wealth of supplies they distribute. From there, we hear from Allie and her work as Director of Fundraising before getting to know Amanda and the contributions she has made on the social media front as Captain of Instagram for the public relations team. Wrapping up, we meet our final guest, Allison Boyer, who manages the DOP Facebook page where she helps assemble literature reviews of the most current research in the field to be distributed freely to all who are interested. So for all this and more about an amazing project that stands testimony to the power of purpose-driven teamwork, tune in today!

149: Acute Care for the PFD Patient with Dana Entwistle MS, CCC-SLP May 26, 2021

Guest: Dana Entwistle MS, CCC-SLP - Today we are really lucky to have an amazing person and fantastic clinician join us on the show! Dana Entwistle is a pediatric feeding clinical specialist at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we get to hear from her all about what that entails. She goes into her personal journey in the profession and the college years that proceeded it. From there, our guest shares the important elements of her current role at Levine, touching on building trust, patient assignment, the hospital space, patient variation and so much more. Dana underlines the importance of the right kind of communication, especially around the tricky and confusing technical side of feeding problems. She has spearheaded the inclusion of more data into the processes she is involved in, something she believes is vital in the constant improvement of healthcare. Listeners can expect to gain some real insight into Dana's philosophy as well as some inspiration for how to be influential and understanding in the feeding space too! This conversation with Dana promises to lead into many more, so make sure to stay tuned for those too!

148: Pediatric Dysphagia and Progressive Disorders - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC May 21, 2021

Guest: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by her favorite cohost Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC, as they tackle the tricky topic of progressive disorders and pediatric dysphagia. Palliative Care and Hospice are two words that are often avoided in the world of pediatrics, however, in honor of Pediatric Feeding Disorder Month, Michelle and Erin are going to have the crucial conversation regarding what a progressive pediatric disorder is, discuss three more prevalent progressive disorders, and then discuss our role in the evaluation and treatment process. While the topic may be a difficult one to address, remember, we are called to serve the least of these and infuse joy and evidenced based-practice into their care.

147: All Things SOFFI® with Dr. Erin Ross, PhD, CCC-SLP May 12, 2021

Guest: Dr. Erin Ross, PhD, CCC-SLP - Today we have an extra special episode that we are so excited to share with all of our listeners! Dr. Erin Ross, the brains and heart behind the SOFFI course, joins us today to talk about her amazing career in feeding therapy, her work developing the SOFFI method, thoughts moving forward, and so much more! We get into a deep and impactful discussion on the lessons that Dr. Ross has learned and continues to share through her work, covering misconceptions, diagnoses, the research that backs up her work, and her favorite parts of her job. Dr. Ross makes a special point to underline the centering of the parents and the time they spend with infants, showing why we should focus on this chunk of experience as the most impactful entry- point to helping children. We also get into some thoughts on specialization, the quality versus quantity debate, and some of the mistakes that seem to often crop up in the pediatric space. Listeners can expect to come away with a sense of purpose, as well as a renewed enthusiasm for this work; Dr. Ross' passion is contagious and her commitment to joyful, research-backed strategies is truly inspiring. So join us on the show for all this and more!

146: Interprofessional Practice for the NICU - Casey Lewis MS CCC-SLP, CNT, NTMTC May 05, 2021

Guest: Casey Lewis MS CCC-SLP, CNT, NTMTC - As SLPs, we are always going to be a part of a team, and it is so crucial that we learn from those we collaborate with to ensure that we provide our patients with the best care. We cannot offer the best treatment if we do not know what our other team members are doing. Not only do we have to learn from professional fields, but we can gain so much from other SLPs. Casey Lewis is an SLP who works in the NICU, and she joins us today to offer insights into the work she does. We talk about her journey to working in the NICU and the fulfillment she feels being there for her patients at such a crucial stage in their development. We hear about the multidisciplinary teams she is a part of and some of the very real challenges she faces advocating for her patients. The reality is that other professions do not understand the value of the SLP, so communicating your role is vital, even if it can be frustrating. We also talk about the conversations between NICU SLPs and outpatient SLPs and where the issues lie, why you need to be involved with your state association, and the importance of bridging communication gaps. Even though it can be hard to remember, we are all on the same team, and we want what’s best for our patients.

145: The Power of Gratitude and Parent Coaching - Marie Muratalla, MS, CCC-SLP Apr 28, 2021

In this episode, the presenter who works with preschool aged patients, shares her keen insight into how to embrace parent coaching with school aged little ones, the benefits of focusing on gratitude with routines based intervention for EI and preschoolers, and how embedding acts of gratitude with these ages and their caregivers can bring joy to the entire team. Get your pencils and journals ready… Michelle and Maria are ready to roll!

144: Connecting the Dots Between PFD and Neurogenic Conditions - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Apr 14, 2021

Have you ever noticed a trend on your pediatric feeding disorder caseload in which you see a couple of patients with similar GI complaints, or similar cardiopulmonary complaints, but there is an unknown etiology? Michelle and Erin spend this hour reviewing the technical details of what a pediatric feeding disorder is, various types of neurogenic conditions that you may commonly encounter, and how all those bits and pieces connect together, and your role in all of it.

143: Self-Care for the SLP in a Hurry - Kayla Duncan, MS Apr 06, 2021

Michelle is joined by the effervescent Kayla Duncan, MS in Applied Psychology, Francis Marion University’s Assistant Director of Counseling and Testing, adjunct professor, and advocate for student and clinician’s mental health. The presenters spend an hour getting into the details on signs and symptoms of caregiver fatigue and burnout, quick functional strategies that you can implement lying in bed in the morning or in the afternoon school carline pickup. But what about when those functional strategies are just not covering it? Kayla shares her resources on how to obtain professional resources for yourself and Michelle shares resources on support teams and groups for our patient’s caregivers.

142: Cultural Conversations with ‘Made in India SLP' - Rabab Rangwala, MS, CCC-SLP and Kinnari Satra, MS, CCC-SLP Mar 30, 2021

In this hour, Michelle is joined by Rabab Rangwala, M.S.,CCC-SLP & Kinnari Satra, M.S.,CCC-SLP, cohosts of the “Made in India SLP” Podcast! Rabab and Kinnari share experiences and evidence for improving cultural competency when completing assessments and treatments for individuals with both language and swallowing disorders even including details on how to create a dynamic and authentic assessment for data collection and report writing. The ladies then share strategies for how to make teletherapy more inclusive for the children and their families that we work with specifically targeting the early intervention and school-aged child.

141: The Case for Pediatric Chronic Cough - Andrea Storie, M, ClSc, CCC-SLP Mar 24, 2021

Guest: Andrea Storie, M, ClSc, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Andrea Storie, MCLSC CCC-SLP, a professional whose focus is on evaluation and treatment of pediatric chronic cough and voice disorders. Whenever a pediatric feeding disorder SLP hears a child cough, instantly our ears perk up and we start wondering, “What is going on in there?” But did you know that some children develop a habit cough that is not triggered by penetration/aspiration? Andrea will educate and inspire us as to the signs and symptoms of pediatric habit cough, the interprofessional team that is needed to diagnose it, and the current evidenced based practice strategies to help treat a pediatric cough.

140: Functional Language Therapy Tips You Can Implement Tomorrow with Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Mar 18, 2021

In this course, Michelle is joined by Erin Forward, and they’re back this month with functional strategies for language. They discuss how to embrace language acquisition within the framework of routines-based-intervention, the power of play, and how to encourage culturally competent language even with AAC.

139: Cari Ebert, MS CCC-SLP and Early Intervention Take II Mar 10, 2021

Cari inspires colleagues with her P.I.E. analogy and offers functional strategies on what an appropriate parent-driven outcome really looks like with respect to goal writing. If you’ve ever worried about best practice for the dreaded data collection, breathe a sigh of relief, and brace yourself for side splitting laughter, while Cari and Michelle speak the truth on data for Early Intervention.

138: Grace and Grief: Strategies for SLPs in this Season of Life with Lisa Bjelland, MSW, PsyD, and Monte Torkelsen, M.Div Mar 02, 2021

In this episode Michelle is joined by Lisa Bjelland MSW and Psy D, who works as a trauma therapist and Monte Torkelsen, M Div, President of Abba's Child Grief Camps for an hour dedicated to finding grace in grief. The caregivers of our little ones that we work with can struggle through the various stages of grief. We, the licensed SLP on the interprofessional practice team, can also struggle with grief, especially when the little ones that we work with pass on. What are we to do? How can we help our caregivers? How can we help ourselves? Maintaining our emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual health is critical. But simply finding the time to engage in the acts of self-care can in itself be a challenge for the busy SLP. Today, Michelle, Lisa, and Monte hold the crucial conversation to help you bring healing, comfort, and joy into your being, so you are better equipped to help others.

137: Polyvagal Theory and Practical Implications for Therapy - Dillen Hartley, OTR Feb 23, 2021

In this hour, Dillen, OTR/L sheds light on the polyvagal theory and how this theory, that most of us haven’t heard of, impacts the patients that we evaluate. If you have a patient that has a past medical history of PTSD, ADD, ADHD, ASD, (and the list goes on), and they are struggling to attend and regulate, did you know that it could be a direct result of an impairment or delay in their fear response, emotional regulation, and social connection, as driven by the function of the vagus nerve? Dillen is here to enlighten and inspire while he gives you the evidence behind the polyvagal theory.

136: Functional Feeding Therapy Tips You Can Implement Tomorrow - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Feb 18, 2021

If you are working in the world of Early Intervention, or thinking about making the switch, but unsure of how to implement routines-based intervention within the framework of treating a pediatric feeding disorder (PFD), then this hour on functional feeding strategies for you. Michelle and Erin walk you through how routines-based intervention allows you to ditch that dread bag of toys and chewys for good, advise you on how to include caregivers and siblings in treatment, as well as discuss the positively powerful evidenced behind slow incremental changes via tapered weaning protocol and how it can guide our patients on their PFD journey.

135: Pediatric Instrumental Swallow Study: Ready or Not with Leslie Wilfong, MSP, CCC-SLP Feb 10, 2021

At least once in our careers, we have all struggled with the question, “But does this little one need an instrumental swallow evaluation?” Sometimes, we feel that we are over referring for instrumentals, other times, we may feel that we are not sending the patients out frequently enough. In this course, our presenters help answer this question with functional guidelines to help lead us in our evidence based decision making process.

134: The Dire Need for Diversity and Inclusion Training for SLPs: The How-To-Guide. - Haley Jones, CAE Feb 04, 2021

Guest: Haley Jones, CAE - Michells is joined by Haley Jones, CAE, former manager of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Leadership Academy, which was the recipient of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Gold Circle Award. Haley, who has a unique talent for program development, is here today to discuss how we can be the source of permanent positive change through the creation of diversity and inclusion programs within our respective professional settings. If you too feel the call in your heart to see our field excel in cultural competency, but are unsure where to start, Haley offers the guidance on how to hold that first deep conversation with our colleagues and friends. If you are ready to take it another step, but are unsure of how to establish a program of accountability, Haley offers functional strategies to see it come to fruition.

133: Cultural Competency in Leadership - Sonya Floyd, MEd, CCC-SLP Jan 27, 2021

Guest: Sonya Floyd, MEd, CCC-SLP - Michelle is joined by Sonya Floyd, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, immediate Past President of the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association (GSHA). If you have ever considered in engaging in leadership activities for your state association, then this is the episode for you. As a profession, we are all aware of the importance of actively engaging in cultural competency with our patients, however, have we honestly had the crucial conversations regarding this topic with respect to leadership? It is past time to engage in that dialogue. Michelle and Sonya are here to inspire, uplift, and initiate this conversation on what needs to occur at a state level with respect to leadership in our profession to increase not only the diversity in our field, but also amongst our leaders.

132: Continued Conversations on Clinical Case Studies - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Jan 20, 2021

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - To kick off their first episode of 2021, Michelle and Erin, tackle one of their favorite topics, clinical case studies for evaluation and treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders. In this hour the ladies address some current clinical needs for individuals that have signs and symptoms of neurogenic based PFD, congenital heart defect (CHD) induced PFD, and esophageal dysphagia. Tune in as Michelle and Erin consult on the steps they have taken to engage interprofessional practice for the care of the little ones and how uncovering the new etiologies is shaping their plan of cares.

131: The Art of Bridging Evidence into Practice - Rebekah Wada, ABD, MS CCC-SLP Jan 13, 2021

Guest: Rebekah Wada, ABD, MS CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Rebekah Wada, ABD, MS CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at Francis Marion University, who is a Doctoral Candidate in Disability Disciplines with a specialization in Speech-Language Pathology at Utah State University. Rebekah is here to share her passion of Implementation Sciences. In a nutshell, this is the hour where we learn how to easily and effectively bridge research into clinical practice, all with ease and laughter.

130: SGD of the 21st Century with Control Bionics - Lane Rials MS, CCC-SLP Jan 07, 2021

Guest: Lane Rials MS, CCC-SLP - The presenters discuss how our own implicit biases in AAC can hinder our patient’s progress, how accessing AAC for individuals with complex mobility needs can be achieved, and how Neural Nod utilizes EMG to give a voice to those in need. If you are on the hunt for the latest evolution in functional AAC SGD to give your little ones the ability to make their wants known, then make sure you tune in for this hour!

129: Ethical Dilemmas for Clinical Audiologists and Clinical Speech Language Pathologists - Dakota Sharp, Au.D., CCC-A Dec 30, 2020

Guest: Dakota Sharp, Au.D., CCC-A - In this episode Michelle is joined by Dakota Sharp, AuD, CCC-A, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of SC, as well as fellow podcaster, host behind “On the Ear”, also sponsored by Speechtherapypd.com. For this hour, Dakota, the straight shooting Audiologist, brings a series of unfortunately common Clinical Case conundrums designed for the practicing Audiologist and/or Speech Language Pathologist, all of which will target ethical concerns. Michelle and Dakota then work together to address the details of the case and how to prevent these errors in your own everyday practice! If you’ve been on the hunt for an ethics class that fits your clinical expertise, then tune in, because Dakota and Michelle have the hour for you!

128: Establishing a Healthy Scope of Practice - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Dec 16, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by her regular co-host extraordinaire Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, soon to be CLC. In this episode Michelle and Erin wrap out their final 2020 episode by having one of their most crucial conversations…how to recognize what your specific Scope of Practice is within the incredibly diverse field that we belong too, as well as how to establish healthy boundaries to protect it! If you’re as wore out from 2020 as we are, then join Michelle and Erin for creating a smooth transition into 2021.

127: Pediatric Dysphagia via Teletherapy - Madeline Raatz Dec 09, 2020

Guest: Madeline Raatz - In this episode Michelle is joined by Madeline Raatz, Senior Speech Language Pathologist from Children’s Health Queensland…yes that Queensland…from the land down under! In case you missed it, Michelle and Madeline tackled Evaluation and Treatment of PFD in Episode 11 of “Talking Teletherapy: A Speech Therapy Podcast” at the start of the worldwide pandemic. Today, they are back for an expansion of the initial ideas, to provide strategies to overcome the barriers of treating a PFD via teletherapy, as well as to celebrate the victories and benefits of teletherapy. Enjoy this hour that unites the globe in embracing telepractice evidence for PFDs.

126: Food Freedom with the Get Permission Approach - Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA Dec 03, 2020

Guest: Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA - In this episode Michelle is joined by Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MED, FAOTA, the guru behind the Get Permission Approach and author of the new PFD treatment book “Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes: Practical and Compassionate Strategies for Mealtime Peace”. If you’ve ever struggled with how to bring joy into a PFD treatment session, or worried about how to expand a little one’s accepted diet with laughter, or fretted about what carry over strategies to recommend to the caregivers and family members, then this is the evidenced based hour for you from one of the world's leading PFD Occupational Therapists! So join the grasshopper nation and let’s take a loving leap into the world of PFDs!

125: SLP Stress Management for the Festive Season - Jessi Andricks, MS, CCC-SLP Nov 18, 2020

Guest: Jessi Andricks, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Jessi Andricks, MS, CCC-SLP, the host of “SLP Stress Management Podcast” to discuss the beautiful intersection of mindfulness and being an SLP. The pandemic has caused all of us stress the last few months and this upcoming holiday season is sure to be unlike any other. So, how do we maintain balance and go about juggling this time of year while still being “present” and “engaged” for our patients, and our family, and our fur babies? That’s a great question? And the answer centers around the practice of “mindfulness”, for which Jessi is a subject matter expert. So if you’re feeling tangled up like the ball of exterior lights and ornament hangers, then this is the episode to unwind with!

124: Ways to make your SLP Voice Heard - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Nov 11, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle and Erin take a fresh look at Leadership opportunities available in our field. One aspect about the ASHA Convention that both Michelle and Erin miss the most, aside from hugging colleagues from across the nation, is the missed opportunities for learning how to engage in leadership activities to drive a positive change both a local and national level for our profession and our patients. Since the convention is cancelled this year, they decided to bring some ideas to you. So, regardless of what stage of your career you are in, #slp2be, #earlycareerslp, or #seasonedslp, this episode is designed to bring the tools and opportunities to you to help be the source of a positive change.

123: Voluntourism vs Volunteering…the How-To-Guide for Global SLPs - Kari Comer Lim, MS CCC-SLP Nov 04, 2020

Guest: Kari Comer Lim, MS CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Kari Comer Lim, MS CCC-SLP, Past President of the DC Speech, Language, and Hearing Association, and Clinical Supervisor at George Washington University where she has collaborated with colleagues across the globe to create study abroad opportunities for Speech Language Pathology students. If you’ve ever thought about combining your loves of Speech Language Pathology, Travel, and Doing Good in the World… then I’m sure that you have thought about volunteering as an SLP abroad! And…I’m hoping that as soon as you had that beautiful thought, you followed it with a quick question or two of, “How can I ethically and respectfully contribute in another community?”. The lovely Kari is here to answer that question, provide first hand guidance, share personal experiences, and mentor you so that you can share your gifts with the world and grow as a kind SLP in the process too!

122: Baby Burnout with Sarah from @ShortandSweetSpeech - Sarah Breshears, MA, CCC-SLP Oct 29, 2020

Guest: Sarah Breshears, MA CCC-SLP - In this course, Michelle is joined by Sarah Breshears, MA CCC-SLP, of @ShortandSweetSpeech from Instagram. This oral care champion is here to hold the crucial conversation about “Baby Burnout." Sometimes the world of Early Intervention and pediatrics is overwhelming and you hit your professional “done level”. But, you then run into the almost insurmountable challenge of, “But babies are all I know! How do I make the change into adults?”. Sarah is here to educate about the signs and symptoms of burnout, functional strategies to overcome it, and offer suggestions to help you make a transition from babies to adults, from home health to acute, from stress to relief.

121: Facing the Facts with FOXG1 Research Foundation - Nasha Fitter and Nicole Johnson Oct 21, 2020

Guests: Nasha Fitter and Nicole Johnson - In this course, Michelle is joined by Natasha Fitter, CEO and Head of Research, as well as Nicole Johnson, President of Communications, for FOXG1 Research Foundation. These two co-founders are here to share how their very personal parenting walks of children with FOXG1 Syndrome, led to the birth of this amazing Research Foundation that is changing the lives of countless children around the world. FOXG1 is know for causing varied and severe Pediatric Feeding Disorders. Not only will Natasha and Nicole share the history of the Foundation, but they will also discuss their latest research, and recommendations for best practice for evaluation and treatment of individuals with PFDs secondary to FOXG1.

120: Mastering Medical Terminology for the EI SLP - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Oct 14, 2020

Guest: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the always lovely and passionate Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, and they take on the trickiest of tasks…. medical terminology! Has it been many-a-moon since the days of grad school? Are you feeling unsure of the terms you read in your patient’s file? Unsure of what to ask for when you call and speak to the patient’s pediatrician’s office? Don’t worry! Erin and Michelle are here to guide you on common terminology used in the NICU, common diagnoses and tests run by the GI, common terms that the RD may use in your collaborative conversation, and common terminology to help you absorb that Neurology report! Come join Michelle and Erin and master Medical Terminology for the EI SLP!

119: Inspiration Power-Hour for PFDs with Feeding Matters - Jaclyn Pederson Sep 30, 2020

Guest: Jaclyn Pederson - In this episode Michelle is joined by the inspirational Jaclyn Pederson, the newly appointed CEO of “Feeding Matters”. By now, you’ve heard Michelle advocate for and encourage volunteers to collaborate with “Feeding Matters”… but today Jaclyn shares the how and why this advocacy and collaboration is key to expanding knowledge and evidenced based practice surrounding evaluation and treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders. Jaclyn takes us on a deep dive as to what the “4 Pillars” are that serve as the basis for “Feeding Matters”, discussing the IPP advocacy efforts behind the PFD ICD Code, as well as development of the ICFQ Questionnaire to assist Pediatricians with their identification of PFD. She then inspires each and every single one of us on how we can share of our time and talents to advance the understanding and treatment for individuals with PFDs. Did I mention the best part? Not only is this organization driven by the crossroads of EBP and IPP…but they place a significant emphasis on family/caregiver involvement as being critical to the little one’s success! Hip Hip Hooray for a patient/family centered care PFD Hour!

118: Family Mealtime Support for our Friends with Tubies - Dr. Marion Russell, OTD, MOTR/L, SCEF Sep 24, 2020

Guest: Dr. Marion Russell, OTD, MOTR/L, SCEF - In this episode Michelle is by the oh-so-joyful Dr. Marion Russell, OTD, MOTR/L, SCEFS, from NoTube.com. Dr. Marion is part of the world renowned “No Tube” Interdisciplinary Therapy Center in Graz, Austria, where they work with families, (both face-to-face and remotely), to assist pediatric patient’s overcome feeding tube dependency…through functional evidenced based practice! In this hour, Dr. Marion discusses the roles and responsibilities of the various members of the team, medical readiness of the candidate, with specific emphasis placed on restoring the heart of mealtime: the healthy relationship between the child, their family/caregiver, and the meal. So, bust out your picnic tablecloth, get your messy feeding clothes ready, and be prepped for an hour of celebrating feeding victories!

117: Learning to Listen with Jenine a LSLS Certified AVT SLP - Jenine Entwistle Viole, MSP, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT Sep 17, 2020

Guest: Jenine Entwistle Viole, MSP, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT - In this episode Michelle is joined by the Jenine Entwistle Viole, MSP, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, a Speech-Language Pathologist and Auditory-Verbal therapist with Pediatric Speech and Language Services in North Carolina…and if we are lucky her sidekick Dennis the Golden Doodle, honorary SLP, will join in too! Have you ever worked with a little one who had hearing loss and felt as if you were missing “something” to help them reach their functional language goals? Jenine is here to explain what an Auditory-Verbal Therapist is and how the specialized training and certification process supplies the evidence for that “something” you felt was missing. This is the perfect follow-up episode to compliment Dakota Sharpe, AuD, CCC-A in “The Journey of Cochlear Implants”, from First Bite Episode #109.

116: Quick Tips for a Successful Feeding Therapy Session - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Sep 15, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the powerhouse that is Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, when they break down some of their favorite tips for conducting a successful Feeding Therapy Session. If you are struggling with creating optimal position for PO intake, Erin and Michelle will help provide strategies that are low cost to no cost. Have you consider how “busy” the therapy room may appear to the patient that you’re working with…and how that will impact their ability to attend to the activity? Erin and Michelle offer guidance on how to declutter that clinic space and why! Are you feeling frustrated by challenging behaviors during your session…and not sure which steps you need to take to help ease the storm? Erin and Michelle have ideas to bring the calm! Tune in for an hour of evidenced based feeding strategies that work!

115: Expanding Your Evidence Based Triangle for Pediatric Feeding Disorders with Alyson, Erin, and Michelle - Alyson Smith, MS, CCC-SLP Sep 09, 2020

Guest: Alyson Smith, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode combines the great minds of Alyson Smith, MS CCC-SLP from @ei.teletherapy on Instagram, Erin Forward, MSP CCC_SLP, and Michelle L.W. Dawson, MS CCC-SLP, CLC, where they deep dive into evidence based intervention for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders. Join this electrifying trio as they tackle what the true definition of evidenced-based practice is for PFDs, move into explaining exercise principles, and discuss how to implement EBP strategies in your Early Intervention Clinic or Home-Based Services. These three women are on a mission to bring fabulously functional tips to your practice via an hour packed with laughter and #SLPNerdCrushes.

114: Questions for Contract Employees during COVID-19 - Morgan Mitchell Aug 26, 2020

Guest: Morgan Mitchell - In this episode Michelle is joined by once again by Morgan Mitchell, Senior Recruiter with Elevation Healthcare, who last joined us for Episode 101 “Considerations for that Contract Job”. Today he comes back to provide specific advice regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic for both Current Contract Employees and Potential Contract Employees, as they head back to their local schools this Fall. Morgan was gracious enough to spend another hour with us to offer functional advice on what questions contract employees should ask their employers regarding COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and Service Delivery options, as well as EBP resources for service delivery during this ever changing time, and tips on what to do in the event that a Clinician should become quarantined. Bottom line…be safe, be strong, be kind, be patient… and wear your mask.

113: The Evidence Regarding NMES for Pediatrics - Rick McAdoo, MS, CCC-SLP Aug 19, 2020

Guest: Rick McAdoo, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Rick McAdoo, M.S., CCC-SLP, Vice-President and Co-Founder of Ampcare, LLC, an FDA registered medical device and services company in Fort Worth, TX, and adjunct professor at his alma mater, TCU. The efficacy of utilization of NMEs as a potential treatment for Pediatric Oropharyngeal Dysphagia is controversial… check any professional Facebook page for the commentary thread and it can get heated, (to say the least). In this episode, Rick, whose career has focused on the evidence of treatment for utilizing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to facilitate better and faster therapeutic outcomes in dysphagia, shares all the details and implications for its use in pediatrics… and y’all it’s a dozey guaranteed to leave you spinning! If you’ve lost referrals to the hospital out-pt clinic down the street who offers NMES for infants, be sure to tune in, because the evidence will joyfully surprise you!

112: More Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders with Dr. Angela - Angela McLeod, PhD, CCC-SLP Aug 12, 2020

Guest: Angela McLeod, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by Angela N. McLeod, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who is a Clinical Associate Professor and Speech-Language Pathologist at the University of SC, that has also obtained certification as a qualified orofacial myologist (QOM). This is the sequel to Dr. Angela’s first appearance in Episode #103 “Mythbusting Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders”. Today Dr. Angela discusses who is an appropriate pediatric candidate for orofacial myofunctional therapy, with emphasis on developmental age, prerequisites to participation, what an evaluation includes, and what an evidenced based treatment session includes. There’s a lot of ground to cover with these two ladies, so hang tight for another mythbusing session!

111: It’s More than ‘Picky Eating’… Three Multifaceted Case Studies - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Aug 05, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle and Erin tackle three complex Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) Cases. Join them as they walk through the first steps of identifying signs and symptoms, navigate the complexity of the Interprofessional Practice diagnostic process, address some potential EBP treatment options, and then discuss a recovery plan for when the inevitable “kaboom” of a communication breakdown occurs between practitioners. If you have questions about the initial red flags for EOE, Neurogenic based PFD, and how to establish ideal communication between practitioners, then this is the Clinical Case Study Hour for you!

110: Behind the Scenes of AAC - Wyatt Franken Jul 29, 2020

Guest: Wyatt Franken - In this episode Michelle is joined by Wyatt Franken, Augmentative Communication Consultant with Talk to Me Technologies. Wyatt, who has a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, from University of Northern Iowa, is here today to talk about all the nitty gritty details that go on behind the scenes in the process of AAC trials. Have you been worried about what options are out there? Curious about the trends in AAC? What about the little details, such as how do you get assistance with an AAC mount…or who orders those mounts? Have you wondered how long the typical AAC trial is? Or how many devices most folks go through before they find the right one? Or…and this is the big one…have you been questioning what exactly is needed in an AAC report for submission and approval? Wonderful Wyatt is here to answer all those questions and more! So enjoy this behind-the-scenes look into the world of AAC!

109: The Journey of Cochlear Implants - Dakota Sharp, AuD, CCC-A Jul 22, 2020

Guest: Dakota Sharp, AuD, CCC-A - In this episode Michelle is joined by Dakota Sharp, AuD, CCC-A is a clinical assistant professor and audiologist at the University of South Carolina Montgomery-Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. Today Dr. Dakota lays out the steps entailed in the process of obtaining a cochlear implant! Have you ever wondered which one of your patients is a candidate for a CI? Or are you unfamiliar with hearing aid technology and unsure of the difference between a CI and other hearing devices? Or do you have a patient that has a CI, but have heard that there are newer features…and you want all the exciting news? Dr. Dakota will shed light on the all the steps and is ready to answer your questions too! Enjoy y’all!

108: Top Tips for Starting out as a Clinical Supervisor - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Jul 08, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by her dynamite First Bite partner, Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, where they take on the topic of Clinical Supervision…for a newbie! The lovely Erin, like so many other SLP’s out there, is coming down the home stretch for when she can serve the next round of Clinicians as their Clinical Practicum Supervisor! There’s no better time than now to cover all the amazing supports, supervision requirement changes, research, and practical application strategies for being successful Supervisor! Have you thought about venturing into the world of Clinical Supervision, but not sure where to start? Michelle and Erin will share the fabulous resources to set you and your future students for success!

107: EBP for Blenderized Tube Feedings - Melissa Blandford, MS, RD, LDN Jul 01, 2020

Guest: Melissa Blandford, MS, RD, LDN - In this episode Michelle is joined by Melissa Blandford - Development Manager for Real Food Blends for the East Coast. Melissa, who has over 20 years of experience working with enteral pediatric patients in the home setting, as well as with DME companies to assist with billing, insurance, and trouble shooting use and approval of enteral feedings in the home setting, is here for an hour to discuss all things EBP for Blenderized Tube Feedings (BTF). Have you worked with a little one with a tubie who has struggled with constipation, retching, GERD management issues? How about the little ones that also struggle with the sugar crashes between tube feedings…because their commercial tube feeds are primarily a “-ose” as in “fructose” or “sucrose”? Well then join Michelle and Melissa for an hour of sugarfree delight while they fill your cup with evidence behind the need for putting real food in a tube!

106: Feeding Therapy in an ABA Center with Dani from ‘The Messy SLP’ - Dani Newcomb, MS, CCC-SLP Jun 24, 2020

Guest: Dani Newcomb, MS CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Dani Newcombe, MS CCC-SLP, the delightfully candid Pediatric Feeding SLP blogger behind The Messy SLP, where she shares bits and pieces of what it's like to be a "messy perfectionist". Dani, who currently works as an SLP in an autism therapy center in South Bend, Indiana, has traveled the country in the pursuit of her passion… delivering EBP Feeding Services to those in need! Today she shares how we can work collaboratively with our ABA Colleagues in the somewhat contentious area of “Feeding”. Yes, you read that right, how to work collaboratively with ABA Colleagues in the world of Pediatric Feeding Disorders…and trust Dani and Michelle…it is possible! Enjoy the hour filled with real life trials and tribulations, lessons learned from past failures, and how to set your tiny human up for Feeding Success!

105: The Curious Crossroads of BCBA and CCC's - Sari Risen, M.A., CCC-SLP, Reg. CASLPO, BCBA Jun 17, 2020

Guest: Sari Risen, M.A., CCC-SLP, Reg. CASLPO, BCBA - In this episode Michelle is joined by Sari Risen, M.A., CCC-SLP, Reg. CASLPO, BCBA, from Toronto, Canada, and they tackle the complicated topic of ABA Therapy and Speech Therapy…within the framework of the fields working collaboratively! Join the ladies as Sari takes First Bite Listeners on an Interprofessional Education tour of the process it takes to earn a BCBA certification, explains the differences and similarities between the terminology of the ABA and SLP worlds, and shares the theory of language acquisition that is the framework for the BCBA approach. Extra tidbit… there’s a mini crash course on the differences between licenses in the States and Canada! Here’s hoping that this crossroads conversations can lead to collaboration at a local level.

104: Research Reviews for the Real World - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Jun 10, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined again by her regular First Bite Co-Host, Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, and they share some recent research in the world of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders! Today, Michelle and Erin address 5 different research articles covering everything from laryngomalacia and a supraglottaplasty repair to a systematic weaning protocol of thickened for little ones with a past medical history that includes aspiration. The ladies of First Bite are hitting up some of their favorite journals including “JAMA-Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery”, “The Journal of Pediatrics”, and “The Laryngoscope” to name a few! Enjoy the research review and how they build a bridge to real world applications of clinical case studies!

103: Mythbusting Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders - Angela McLeod, PhD, CCC-SLP Jun 04, 2020

Guest: Angela McLeod, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Angela N. McLeod, PhD, CCC-SLP, who is a Clinical Associate Professor and Speech-Language Pathologist at the University of SC, that has also obtained certification as a qualified orofacial myologist (QOM). Are you new to the words “orofacial myologist” and unclear what it is and how it works within the field of Speech-Language Pathology? Have you worried that orofacial myology is synonymous with non-evidenced based oral motor exercises? Or, (like Michelle until just recently), are you too laboring upon the misinformation that all orofacial myologists are proponents of cutting tethered tissues? Well, then come join the gracious and compassionate Dr. Angela for an hour of mythbusting that is sure to inspire us all in the pursuit of additional coursework! Wahoo for EBP drive SLPs!

102: Mindful Nutrition with @makainutrition - Marissa Kai May 27, 2020

Guest: Marissa Kai - In this episode Michelle is joined by Marissa Kai is an Intuitive Eating nutritionist (soon-to-be Registered Dietitian), from @MaKaiNutrition on Instagram. For many of us, our relationship with food has changed drastically since the start of the pandemic…becoming either source of pleasure or stress. Comedic posts of the “Pandemic Pounds” and “Pandemic Beach Body” are plentiful on social media these days, but for some it only adds to the burden of their current situation. Marissa is here to help address the fears and turn mealtime for the SLP back into a source of mirth and merriment! Mindful Nutrition for the SLP’s soul and tastebuds is possible, so join us for an hour of self care straight from our pantry to yours!

101: Considerations for That Contract Job - Morgan Mitchell May 20, 2020

Guest: Morgan Mitchell - In this episode Michelle is joined by Morgan Mitchell, Senior Recruiter for Elevation Healthcare, to address all the confusions and considerations that surround a contract SLP position! So let’s be honest, we have all seen our friends who take that contract job and are posting beautiful instagram pictures of exotic places across America…and we think to ourselves, “Oh I could do that…but…” and then we freeze because of that tiny little word “but”. Today, we are tackling that “but” and replacing it what the facts about who, what, where, when, why behind a contract and also delving into the ASHA 2019 Healthcare Salary Survey to pack this hour full of information, so that you know your worth! Get your parka or sunglasses ready, because by the end of this hour you will be ready for that contract position and the adventure of a lifetime!

100: Chasing the Swallow: The Case for IPP in Pediatric Feeding Disorders - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP May 13, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by her regular co-host of First Bite, the one and only Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP and…drumroll please…this is the episode where they get to share the project they have been working on for the past year… “Chasing the Swallow: Best Practices for Pediatric Feeding Disorders”… the BOOK… just in PodCourse form of course! Have you ever wondered about what type of training and education the members of the Pediatric Feeding Team have experienced? Have you been curious about what type of tests that ENT, GI, and Neurologist can order? Have you ever pondered who can help solve the riddle of a particular patient’s signs and symptoms? Today the ladies of First Bite answer those questions and more with copious amounts of research and resources! It’s been a long time coming, but y’all “Chasing the Swallow” is finally here!

99: Fascination of FEES - Vince Clark, M.Ed, CCC-SLP May 06, 2020

Guest: Vince Clark, M.Ed, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Edgar “Vince” Clark, M. Ed., CCC/SLP, Past President of the GA Speech Language Hearing Association and 2013 Alumni of the Year for the Dewar College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University. Today Vince shares his insights on why the FEEs examination can be as an invaluable tool for the pediatric population as the MBSS instrumental examination, and how it offers improved accessibility especially for those populations that don’t have easy access to a radiology suite. Sit back and let the soothing Southern drawl of these two calm your nerves and lift your spirits while they talk about all thangs noses and fiber optic cameras!

98: Examining Eosinophilic Esophagitis with Dr. Gregg - Gregory Black, MD Apr 29, 2020

Guest: Gregory Black, MD - In this episode Michelle is joined by Dr. Gregory Black, the current President of the SC Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Society, and guest for Episode 13 “So You’re Telling Me Allergy Testing is Important?”, and Episode 18 “Dairy vs Soy vs What? The Correct Formula for Your Allergy and Why!” and they are taking a closer examination of that elusive Eosinophilic Esophagitis diagnosis. Okay, so let’s admit, most of us had never heard of “EOE”, as it is more commonly known, in grad school, but it appears to be popping up left and right these days when we go to obtain a past medical history for our patients. This is a hard diagnosis to come by, and unfortunately, it is a hard diagnosis to effectively treat, and for the “Feeding Therapist”, well y’all it’s hard to try new foods when we are worried about which ones our patient’s could be allergic too. That’s where the lovely Dr. Gregg Black comes in! He is back y’all to explain all about EOE! Through his helpful tips, all of us in the trenches will find better footing in the evaluation and treatment process for our patients! Three Cheers for Dr. Gregg!

97: Effective Early Intervention for Individuals with Down Syndrome - Kelly Kleinhans, PhD, CCC-SLP Apr 23, 2020

Guest: Kelly Kleinhans, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Kelly Kleinhans, PhD, CCC-SLP, who was awarded the 2017 Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association-American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Clinical Achievement Award for her work with persons with Down syndrome. Dr. Kelly, who is currently serving as past president of the Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association, is here today to share her passion for best practices for total communication and early introduction of AAC for individuals who have Down syndrome. Have you noticed the inclusive advertisements for some of our favorite shopping centers? Have you noticed the new face on some of our favorite baby food jars lately? Dr. Kelly and First Bite sure have! So after we tackle “all thangs” EBP for total communication and AAC, Dr. Kelly is going to discuss the empowering trends in social media for acceptance and inclusion! You’re probably going to want to listen to this fabulous hour with your latte in hand while pushing your favorite red shopping cart!

96: Tricky Tethered Tissues - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Apr 15, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by co-host extraordinaire Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP…and they are taking on those tricky tethered tissue issues. Have you too been confused about the HIPAA compliant pictures that you see popping up on social media that ask advice about that presumed “tongue tie”? Or has a colleague sent you a HIPAA friendly pic of a supposed “lip tie” and asked your advice about a static image? Welp, us too! In this episode Michelle and Erin address normal anatomical variations, the history of tethered tissue treatments, and what the evidence currently tells us. Enjoy the untanglement!

95: Cari Ebert on Delivering Extraordinary Early Intervention! - Cari Ebert, MS, CCC-SLP Apr 08, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined the one and only Cari Ebert, MS CCC-SLP, of the famous Cari Ebert Seminars! Cari, who is a passionate pediatric SLP focusing on Early Intervention and Apraxia, an Autism Momma, a proud defender of play, a breast cancer survivor, author, professional speaker, and as she says a frequent flyer, is a one stop shop for EBP resources and is here today to tackle the evidenced based trend towards Coaching. Watch out EI SLP’s…we heard that worried sigh of “Oh No not Coaching!”, but fear not! Cari illuminates the common misunderstanding between Coaching and Counseling, then turns around and busts open the obstacles to coaching with function and fun resources to set you and your patients up for success. It’s a double whammy of energy and enthusiasm for putting evidence into the world of Early Intervention this hour!

94: PhD’s and AAC… There’s a Calling for That! - Chitrali Ramakant Mamlekar (PhD Candidate) Apr 01, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined Chitrali Mamlekar, who is a PhD candidate at Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. Chitrali, who is the recipient of the Kala Singh Memorial Fund - International/Minority Student Scholarship (2018) from the American Speech Hearing Association, as well as the recipient of the Research Mentor Pair Travel awarded for early-career scientist in the area of Neuroplasticity Research in Language Recovery in Aphasia (2018), has focused her doctoral studies on the intersection of patient-provider communication and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). This dynamic speaker, who was also awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Allied Health from University of Cincinnati (2018), is here to inspire us today to pursue that PhD we have dreamt about, offer vital information bridging research to practice on AAC, and educate us to the Joint Commission Standards of regulations and rights of patients of all ages, (especially our young children), in having access to their communication devices to communicate to their medical providers. By the end of this heartwarming and personal hour, we will all want to enroll in a PhD in AAC out in Ohio!

SPECIAL EPISODE: Teletherapy from EI to High School: Practical Applications and Resources (Panel Discussion From Teletherapy Bootcamp) Mar 27, 2020

Click here to access the full 7-hour bootcamp and earn ASHA CEUs!

Panelists: Michelle L. W. Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC; Andrea M.Szwabowski, M.H.S., CCC-SLP/L; Marisha Mets, MS, CCC-SLP; Carrie Clark, CCC-SLP; Jessi Andricks MS, CCC-SLP; Lauren Tandy, MS CCC-SLP

This panel of presenters discussed teletherapy, the essential and best practices for EI to High School related services.

93: Clinical Practicums Gone ‘Ka-Boom’ and How to Fix Them with Kari Comer, MS, CCC-SLP Mar 25, 2020

Presenters: Kari Comer, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined again by Kari Comer, MS CCC-SLP, Clinical Supervisor, Adjunct Professor, and Outreach Coordinator at The George Washington University, and Current President of the D.C. Speech Language and Hearing Association. Kari, who was featured in Episode #75, “Clinical Supervision as told by the SLP President of DC”, is back to address the hard cases of Clinical Supervision… or in simpler terms what to do when it all goes “Ka-Blooey”! Kari will offer examples of some of the most common professionalism concerns regarding Clinical Supervisors, Student Clinicians, and then functional strategies for turning a wayward Clinical Practicum around into a positive learning experience.

92: Those Confounding Cranial Nerves! - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Mar 18, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by everyone’s favorite First Bite co-host, Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, to address those confounding cranial nerves! On Old Olympus towering Tops A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops… well sure that quick mnemonic diddy helped you ace your anatomy test in grad school, but what did you really learn about the cranial nerves for speech and swallowing development? The Vagus, sure he wanders, but what about his implication in cardiac repair surger? The Trigeminal, sure he does sensation and motor innervation, but what about when the little one had a grade 4 bleed at week 32? Do you know what could be impacted? In this hour Michelle and Erin take on all 12 nerves and guarantee to toss in a funny bone too!

91: Cracking Those @hardtoswallowslp Dysphagia Myths - Will Farnham, MS, CCC-SLP Mar 11, 2020

Guest: Will Farnham, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Will Farnham, MS, CCC-SLP, the tortured soul behind @hardtoswallowslp on Instagram. Will, who is an accomplished FEES trained Medically-Based SLP, spends this hour sharing his quick verbal whit while busting a series of commonly misplaced dysphagia myths! Ever wondered if the instrumental exam trumped what is seen during your regular ST sessions? Don’t wonder any longer; Will will shatter our preconceived notions. Ever worried that a patient’s dysphagia status was the sole indicator for aspiration status? Don’t worry any longer; Will’s got the answer! Ever considered if the UES, (Upper Esophageal Sphincter), is where our job stops? No longer need to consider, Will’s got this! This hour proves to be as inspirational as it is joyful!

90: The Intersection of American Sign Language and Early Intervention - Jill Eversmann, MS, CCC-SLP Mar 04, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined by the accomplished lecturer Jill Eversmann, MS CCC-SLP, Academic and Clinical Faculty of Columbia College, and X instructor w/ ASDF. In this hour they challenge all the preconceived notions about incorporating American Sign Language into Early Intervention….in short, they will teach you how “talking with your hands” is an excellent strategy to increase acquisition of functional communication, the differences between Baby Sign and American Sign Language, and the best resources and references behind the beautiful intersection that is ASL and EI. Be sure to stretch before this hour, because it will have you moving!

89: The Empowering Intersection of NSSLHA, Student Advocacy, and the CCC-SLP - Natalie Marie Sfeir Feb 26, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined by Natalie Marie Sfeir, National NSSLHA’s VP for Government Affairs and Public Policy…who is also a full time graduate student! Today they challenge your notions of what a millennial Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologist brings to our professions, by advocating, educating, and inspiring us all via NSSLHA! NSSLHA is definitely not what it use to be, (exhausted student clinicians hovering around coffee cups and stale pizza stressing about their next assignment), instead it is a powerhouse system built upon hardworking student clinicians and mentoring professors. A system that is making waves in Congress through their face-to-face and electronic advocacy efforts. A system that is pulling our profession forward through their scholarship and researching efforts. And, a system that is helping us grow locally, via their volunteerism at the state level. Be sure to share this joyful episode with your favorite student clinician and/or clinical supervisor!

88: Clinical Indicators for NPO - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Feb 19, 2020

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle and Erin tackle when it is appropriate to say “NPO”. That’s right, sometimes it falls on us as the Feeding and Dysphagia experts to share with the rest of the Interprofessional Team that we have concerns for safety of PO intake. But, we need to be able recognize how the “Little One’s” Cardiac, Gastrointestinal, and Respiratory systems contribute or dictate that NPO status. Again, we need to be able to when the pleasure and quality of a feed are fading and our patients need advocacy and support. Baselines change often for our complex patients and this is the episode that differentiates the signs and symptoms of when we can say “NPO” and when we can joyously celebrate moving towards “PO” again.

87: Savoring the Science behind that “First Bite” - Dr. Reva Barewal Feb 12, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined the award winning and innovative Dr. Reva Barewal! Dr. Reva graduated from the University of Toronto Dental School in 1992. From 1992 to 1993 she was in a General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Following her residency, she practiced as a general dentist for six years. She completed a Prosthodontic Post Doctoral Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2002, winning first place in the John Sharry competition of 2002. In 2006 she was awarded the first implant award for research by Astra Tech and the inventor of dental implants. Her professional training, combined with her passion and further education as a culinary chef, gave her unique insight into her patient’s needs when it came to the satisfaction that was missing in altered diets and mealtime…so she combined her skills and created Savorease! The first product of its kind that has delicious dissolvable crackers and dips that not only meet IDDSI guidelines, but also give the pleasure of the sought after “crunch” and “taste” often missing in these diets. Your taste buds will be salivating, while your neurons are firing as she explains the science and research behind chewing, biting, crunching, and tasting!

86: National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing and You! - Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Feb 05, 2020

In recognition of Black History Month, Michelle interviews the amazing Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Dr. Johnson, who serves on the ASHA Board of Directors as the National Advisor to the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, is also an 18-year member of the National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing where she currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. She is also a proud alumna of the 2006 class of the ASHA Minority Student Leadership Program. This is a fast paced hour that covers a lot of ground: everything from the history of African Americans prevalence and growth within the world of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, how an SLP working in the world of Early Intervention needs to ethically assess and treat a child with a suspected language delay or impairment when a little one that we are working with has AAVE or resides with a family who speaks using a recognized dialect such as Gullah or Geechee, and how one could become involved in such groups as NBASLH and the Student Minority Leadership Program at ASHA. Enjoy the encouragement in how we can encourage diversity within our field at a local grassroots effort!

85: The More the Merrier: Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Co-Treatments with an OT, Psychologist, and an SLP - Rob Dempster, PhD and Elizabeth “Beth” Halpin, MHS, OTR/L, SCFES Jan 29, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined by Elizabeth (Beth) Halpin, MHS, OTR/L, SCFES, from episode #60 “Ots and Feeding? Who knew!?!” and Rob Dempster, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, from episode #71 Psyched about Psychology and Feeding!”. In this hour of “First Bite”, the dynamic duo opens up about their collaboration for a combined treatment approach for pediatric feeding and swallowing disordersThey share the good, the bad, the ugly: lesson’s learned about best practice for a team approach, etiologies that benefit the most from a team approach, as well as their favorite “do-overs”…as in, “welp if we had known this, then we would have done this”…and let’s be honest, the do-overs tend to be the best life lessons! Let this cheery episode warm you up this chilly winter day!

84: Top Ten Takeaways from ASHA 2019 - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Jan 22, 2020

In this episode Michelle and Erin have fully recovered from the intensity that is the annual ASHA Convention from November 2019. Why is that great news? Easy! They are going to share their “Top 10 Takeaways” for adding functional evidence to your practice! They will take you on an EBP hunt in the exhibit hall, hit up Erin’s Top 3 Lectures, and wrap with Michelle’s Top 3 Lectures, and spread some joy that can be found by being surrounded by almost 14,000 colleagues. If you weren’t able to make to Orlando this past year, no worries, they are all set to bring the magic to you!

83: The Power of Prompting and Push-In for AAC - Stephen Kneece MA CCC-SLP Jan 15, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by Stephen Kneece, MA, CCC-SLP, who serves as the President-Elect-Elect of SCSHA (South Carolina Speech-Language Hearing Association), the CEO/Founder of Speech and Language Songs, as well as a graduate of the ASHA LDP (Leadership Development Program). Today Stephen, who works as an Assistive Technology Consultant for his local school district, discusses the concept of “Prompting Hierarchy” and how to use it effectively with AAC, as well as pros and cons of utilizing a “Push-In” model for AAC in an Elementary School and in a Daycare for Early Intervention. The guru behind “Speech and Language Songs”, found on YouTube and Instagram, packs quite the perky punch in this episode… bonus points… he can really rock that guitar and solo vocals!

82: Adventures in Feeding with Melanie Potock - Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP Jan 08, 2020

In this episode Michelle is joined by the one and only Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, author of the critically acclaimed and widely successful books “Raising a Healthy Happy Eater: A Stage-by-Stage Guide to Setting Your Child on the Path to Adventurous Eating” (2015),“Baby Self-Feeding: Solutions for Introducing Purees and Solids to Create Lifelong Healthy Eating Habits (2016)”. And the popular food activity book, titled “Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 100 Easy Activities and Recipes (2018)”. Melanie serves up a scrumptious hour jammed pack with busting “Baby-Led Weaning” myths, elaborating on her “3 Easy E’s”, and highlighting some of her favorite family mealtime tips from other cultures and how they can encourage healthy eating habits for your little one…as well as infuse joy into a home!

81: Common Pediatric Medications and Their Role in Feeding and Swallowing Disorders - Lisa Milliken, MA CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP Dec 30, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by Lisa Young Milliken, MA, CCC, FNAP, CDP, who received her BA from Louisiana Tech University and her MA from The University of Memphis in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. Have you had questions regarding that laundry list of medications that your pediatric patient is taking? No fear and no shame from us here at First Bite…. because we have had the same questions too! Did you know that certain common medications for GERD and seizure management could trigger an oroprharyngeal dysphagia, trigger constipation, or result in bone density issues? As Clinicians we need to understand how the medications that our patients are taking can impact their hunger cues and desire for PO trials, or contribute to safety issues for PO intake… and Lisa is here to clarify the muddy waters that is pediatric medications.

80: Merry Memories: EBP Lessons Learned From Our Mistakes - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Dec 23, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by co-host Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, where they discuss a fair few of their Many Merry Mistakes in the world of Early Intervention and Pediatric Speech Language Pathology…but more importantly they discuss the Evidenced Based Practice life lessons they learned from them. The daily struggle of time management, from both a scheduling perspective and from within a session, are attended to, as well as lessons and strategies learned from past breakdowns in crucial conversations between Clinicians and Caregivers regarding EBP treatment and caregiver misconceptions…and interspersed over the entire hour is the power behind the word “No”! The aim is to reignite your fire for our field at the end of the year when your hearth may be smoldering instead of burning bright…all via a Merry look at our past Mistakes.

79: Ethical Dilemmas and Solutions for the Early Intervention SLP - Melanie W. Hudson, M.A. CCC-SLP, F-ASHA, F-NAP Dec 18, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the esteemed Melanie W. Hudson, M.A. CCC-SLP, National Director at EBS Healthcare, ASHA Fellow, and Distinguished Fellow of National Academies of Practice (NAP), as well as author of “Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 4th edition” (Lubinski & Hudson; Delmar, Cengage Learning, 2013; Plural Publishing, 2018). Today they address the tough questions… common ethical issues that Early Intervention SLPs face each day. Billing concerns, patient abandonment, and the new 2020 ASHA Code of Ethics updates are all covered in this episode that is designed to lift your spirits, get that knot of dread out of your stomach, and leave you feeling refreshed for the start of the new year!

78: Behind the Scenes of BCS-S, Dysphagia Research Society, and more with Donna Edwards - Donna Edwards, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, ASHA Fellow Dec 11, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by Donna Edwards, an Associate Professor, author, inventor, national/international speaker and Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders at Baldwin Wallace University. Now we have all felt isolated in the world of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, especially when it comes to evidenced based strategies for evaluations and interventions…overlooked by the massive amount of data for our adult peers and the apparent scant for pediatrics…but that changes today! Donna is here to provide her inside first hand experience, knowledge, and expertise about the amazing endeavors that are being undertaken by various organizations, (BCS-S, The Dysphagia Research Society, and ASHA SIG 13), to not only fill the void, but to propel us forward!! Three cheers and “Hooah” are in order for this uplifting hour!

77: Easing the Transition From EI to Schools for Our Feeding and Swallowing Friends - Emily Homer, CCC-SLP, MA, ASHA Fellow Dec 04, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the author of Management of Swallowing and Feeding in Schools Emily M. Homer, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow! If you have ever been concerned about transitioning your patient from the world of Early Intervention into the Local Education Agency, (LEA), then after this hour you should be armed with knowledge and peace of mind about options to support and ease your little one’s transition. Are you concerned about who will provide services for feeding and swallowing in the LEA? What about if the CCC-SLP at the LEA can make referrals to the medical community? OR…and this is a biggie for the EI CCC-SLP…what can you do to ease the transition from EI to LEA for your patient? Don’t worry Emily Homer, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, will equip you today!

76: Food Allergies, Friendsgiving, and You! - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Dec 01, 2019

In this episode the dynamic duo of Michelle and Erin are back to discuss breaking bread on “Friendsgiving”. Should we try Aunt Jenny’s tuna casserole? Or is Uncle Scott’s “World Famous Oyster Stuffing” really that famous? Or is the shellfish/gluten combo going to send us running…straight for the medicine cabinet? Or have you been tasked with the hosting assignment this year and don’t know where to begin? (And we’re not talking about the difficult table-scaping decisions J)
This yummy hour addresses the difference between an allergen vs an intolerance, common food allergy families are mapped out, and resources on where to go to learn more are offered. Don’t worry, by the end we might just have the perfect stuffing recommendations and have resolved which set of china to use too!

75: Clinical Supervision as told by the SLP President of DC! (.1 ASHA CEU) - Kari Comer, MS CCC-SLP Nov 18, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the passionate and multiple-hat wearing Current President of the Washington D.C. Speech Language Hearing Association Kari Comer, MS CCC-SLP. In this critical hour Kari dispels fears, speaks truths, and carries you away with her call to action to “BE A Clinical Supervisor”! Our students and the future of our profession is reliant upon YOU to answer this call! This episode not only educates you to the upcoming ASHA 2020 Clinical Supervision requirement changes, but wait-for-it, it ALSO meets one of those requirements as a continuing education hour! Enjoy folks… and get ready to sign-up for a student soon!

74: The Positive Power of Interprofessional Practice for Pediatric Dysphagia - Megan Richmond, DHA, MS CCC-SLP, CLC Nov 13, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by Megan Richmond, DHA, M.S., CCC-SLP, CLC, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with over eighteen years of clinical and research experience, who is also trained in yoga for the special child through Kripalu. Dr. Megan’s unique background of research on best practices for Interprofessional Practice when treating Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders is a special treat for this episode. She too was frustrated by traditional “silo” approaches to therapy, so she dove into the field with a desire to learn “How do we fix this?” and long story short it became her life’s work for 4 years of intense study. The end result, one amazing journey towards a Doctorate in Health Administration, and a new zeal to share that information with colleagues around the globe! Be inspired with laughter and light when these two nerdy SLP gals take on Interprofessional Practice!

73: Private Practice Woes and Wows with “Southeastern Communication and Swallowing Specialists” - Leah Ringled, MA CCC-SLP and Julieanne Granados, MEd CCC-SLP Nov 06, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the dynamic duo behind Southeastern Communication and Swallowing Specialists, Mrs. Leah Ringled, MA CCC-SLP, and Mrs. Julieanne Granados, Med CCC-SLP! In this powerful hour, the ladies share functional private practice advice for all those working in both rural settings, as well as in communities that are heavily military based. Not only do they bring up concerns for staffing and communicating with physicians that are farther away, but they immediately offer solutions that are easy to implement and have you laughing along the way! This one is good for functional learning and for lifting your dirt-road driving spirits!

72: Case Studies for Infants, Toddlers, and Children with Down Syndrome - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Oct 30, 2019

In this episode Michelle is once again joined by the passionate Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP. Together they spend an hour dedicated to dissecting common airway, cardiac, and GI issues prevalent with Infants, Toddlers, and Children who have Down syndrome, and how these can result in a Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders. Special attention is placed on how airway, cardiac, and GI issues can occur in isolation, but often for our patients with Down syndrome, they occur concomitantly. Appropriate Interprofessional Practice referrals, Functional Feeding strategies, and shout outs for the amazing work that the National Down syndrome Society is doing… are all on the menu too!

71: Psyched about Psychology and Feeding! - Robert M. Dempster, PhD Oct 24, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the dynamic Dr. Robert Dempster, Pediatric Psychologist, who specializes in research and practice of pediatric feeding disorders! Have you ever wondered what exactly a psychologist on a feeding team does? Have you been worried that they force a bite? Or been concerned that they use mind control superpowers to encourage PO intake? Well, then let Dr. Rob put those comedic fears at ease as he presents the vital role a psychologist has in treating the child holistically, engages families and caregivers in a positive encouraging manner, and provides evidenced based strategies to encourage PO intake, as well as functional strategies to support carryover between feeding therapy sessions. This is one mighty powerful hour of awesomeness!

70: The Emotionally Intelligent Early Intervention SLP - Kevin Nourse, PhD, PCC Oct 16, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by Kevin Nourse, PhD, PCC, an executive coach, leadership development expert, author, and speaker with over 20 years of experience developing resilient change leaders, and one of the gurus behind the ASHA Leadership Development Program! Somewhere along the path of life, you may have had a “Bad Boss”, which spurred you on to wanting to take a Leadership Role to lead a team the “Right Way”… well those leadership skills, both the “bad” and the “good” are based upon an individual’s Emotional Intelligence. Today, Dr. Nourse shares insight into what Emotional Intelligence is, how it impacts leadership in the workforce, and how to evolve your own Emotional Intelligence to become the #SLPLIKEABOSS that you want to be!

69: Food Chaining with Cheri Fraker, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC Oct 09, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the One and Only Cheri Fraker, MS CCC-SLP, CLC! That’s right, the guru behind “Food Chaining: The proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Pick Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Child’s Diet”. This phenomenal book has indescribably positively impacted that patients of the clinicians that have devoured the text. So, are you feeling stuck with how to proceed with a patient to expand their diet beyond 3 choice foods? Are you feeling overwhelmed with how to introduce PO for the first time to a little one who has feeding tube dependency? Well, leave your chewy tubes at home, lock them away in a box, lose key, and be prepared to have your professional soul nourished with Cheri!

68: Pediatric Dysphagia Includes the Esophagus - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Oct 02, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined the newly relocated Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, to shed some light on the far too often ignored Esophageal Stage of the swallow! Did you know that the Esophgeal Stage of the swallow is the fourth stage of swallowing? Or that numerous issues or etiologies arising in this area, often present in the oral stage of swallowing as “pocketing” or “behavioral aversions”? Also, did you know that best practice for instrumental swallow exams includes scanning the esophagus during a Modified Barium Swallow Study? Stay tuned for an overdue episode on the unfortunately underrated esophagus!

67: The Dynamic Role of Registered Dietitians in Early Intervention - Deborah Malkoff-Cohen, MS, RD, CDN, CDE Sep 25, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the radiant Registered Dietitian Deborah Malkoff-Cohen, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, who is the founder of City Kids Nutrition and NYCeatwell, nutrition consultation services for children and adults living in and around New York City. Deborah shares her years of experience about the unique roles and responsibilities of an RD who works in the world of Early Intervention, jumping into Scope of Practice, Roles and Responsibilities, and top etiologies that she engages with on a day-to-day basis. Don’t worry, this isn’t an overly “granola” episode, but functional Interprofessional education, served with a side of avocados and tomatoes!

66: SLP Advocacy in Action starts with YOU! - Deborah Ross-Swain, Ed.D., CCC-SLP Sep 18, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by powerhouse SLP that is Deborah Ross-Swain, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, who is the clinical director and CEO of The Swain Center for Listening, Communicating and learning. She is also the immediate past president of the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA). So have you had an amazing idea, you know the kind that keeps ya up at night because it is so brilliant you can’t sleep due to your thoughts racing? But then you come back to the almost insurmountable hurdle of how to fund that great Speech-Language Pathology idea? Well… worry no more friend! Dr. Deb is here to share how she transformed ideas into action with the aid of a series of ASHA Grants! She will share advice on the application process, the dynamic outcomes embodied in “200 words by 2” and “2 word combos by 2”, then wrap out this intense hour with functional advice on how to use these tools to educate your local pediatricians on the vital importance of functional language by 2 years of age! Per the usual, it’s a fast paced but rewarding hour with Michelle and Dr. Deb!

65: Ethics Behind Bilingual Evaluations and Treatment - Fé Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP Sep 11, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the fabulous Fé Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP, who is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department at Northern Arizona University (NAU), and the Immediate Past President of the Arizona State Speech Language and Hearing Association. Have you been unsettled by a recent referral for a child who speaks a different language? Are you unsure with how to proceed? Concerned on whether or not you need an interpreter to assist in the evaluation and/or treatment? Or…the big scary one…what if you can’t find an interpreter?!? Don’t worry, Michelle has had that fear too…but the Fearless Fé is her today to offer some evidence and ethical recommendations on how to proceed!

64: Ideas & Inspirations to Motivate Your Kids to Practice - Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP Sep 09, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the charming Southern Lady that is Char Boshart, MA CCC-SLP…THE SLP behind the dynamic “Speech Link” PodCourse, also sponsored by SpeechTherapyPD.com! Have you felt “stuck” lately trying to get your little one’s family motivated to implement Speech Therapy homework… aka The sometimes dreaded Home Exercise Program? Welp…me too friend! But I have great news! Char is here to help give us functional strategies to establish motivation and “buy-in” from our little’s ones care givers and loved ones…so watch out HEP…we are about to get-it-done!

63: Grace in Grief: 7 Stages, PPD, PTSD, and how they impact a ST Session - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Sep 05, 2019

In this podcourse, the presenters tackle an often taboo topic, Grief. Too often we “feel” when a patient’s family is having an “off day”, but what happens when those “off days” become the norm? Grief, Postpartum Depression and Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, these are all too commonly overlooked diagnoses that the parents and guardians of the special babies we work with, have to deal with on a daily basis. Are you prepared to recognize these s/s? Have you advocated and conveyed your concerns about the parent/guardians mental and emotional health to their physician? Do you feel confident in sharing these concerns? Are you aware of how these factors can impact the implementation of a home exercise plan for ST? Let real life experiences, tearful and comical, with functional and practical resources, build your confidence so that you can support the loved ones and caregivers of our little ones.

62: The Power of Waiting - Krystal Vermillion, MOT, OTR/L Aug 29, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by her dear friend Krystal Vermillion, MOT,OTR/L, from The Shriner’s Hospital Greenville, SC. This episode is near and dear to Michelle’s heart as Krystal’s guidance on utilization of therapeutic cues not only shaped the frequency and types of cues that Michelle has used with her patients, but also with her own personal tiny humans. In short, sometimes the auditory bombardment and latency period that SLP’s, (and tired Mommas), use in general are too much and too short…but never fear, Krystal is here to offer functional evidenced based tips on how to “read” our pediatric patients and offer just the right amount! Enjoy this power hour on therapeutic cues between dear friends who are equal parts nerd girl and avid outdoorsy folks!

61: “Speechie Side Up” Presents AAC - Venita Litvack, MA, CCC-SLP Aug 21, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the hostess with Venita Litvack, MA, CCC-SLP, of “The Speechie Side Up” Podcast and SLP Blog. Today they cover all “thangs” AAC. Ever struggled to find credible resources for learning more about theory and history of best practices behind pediatric AAC, or how to implement AA with a complex pediatric patient, or… and here is the kicker…getting the daycare teachers or the ECSE on board with using the device within their classrooms? Venita is here to take those frustrations and worries away! Enjoy the nerdy-gal conversation between two podcasters who love their field and particularly AAC!

60: OTs and Feeding? Who knew!?! - Elizabeth “Beth” Halpin, MHS, OTR/L, SCFES Aug 14, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the one and only Elizabeth “Beth” Halpin, MHS, OTR/L, SCFES, aka Feeding Therapy, OT guru extraordinaire! Yep, we own it, Beth rocks!! This is the hour that your questions pertaining to the Scope of Practice for Occupational Therapists engaged in Feeding Therapy are FINALLY answered! Beth offers functional hands-on, (no pun intended), resources for the EBP of “messy” and “sensory play”, as well as general EBP guidelines for how to incorporate OT skills into your feeding sessions. Enjoy this fascinating feeding hour that will leave you wanting more!!

59: So About That IDDSI! - Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP Aug 07, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, and they take on the beast of the change between the National Dysphagia Diet and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative. It is time! Erin and Michelle spend this fast paced hour updating and taste testing foods and drinks according to the new IDDSI guidelines! They will share their favorite IDDSI transition resources, as well as help to explain the differences in food and drink between NDD and IDDSI for all consistencies. Bring your private practice and personal practices in line with current best practice with this lively lecture! Also, be sure to check out the First Bite Insta and FB accounts for the videos of all the taste testing!

58: Early Childhood and AAC… with SpeechandLanguage Songs - Stephen Kneece, MA, CCC-SLP Jul 31, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by Mr. Stephen Kneece, MA CCC-SLP, the charming southern gentlemen who is the mastermind, voice, and musician behind the YouTube Channel “Speech & Language Songs”. Stephen, who serves as the Assistive Technology Consultant for Aiken County School District during the day, joins Michelle to share his passion for all “thangs” AAC. Core Vocab, Fringe, the struggles of choosing an AAC device, and evidenced based options if Speech Generating isn’t the way to go at this moment, are all covered in this dynamic power-hour!

57: Therapeutic Handling for the Critical Core - Paul Tardy, OTR/L Jul 24, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by her mentor, colleague, and “Brother by a Different Mother”, Paul Tardy, OTR/L, of “PT the OT Therapy and Wellness”. Have you ever seen an OT palm a child like a basketball, or bounce them in varying directions on a ball like a wobble head, or seen the kiddo crawling across the floor and observe and OT roll a therapy ball…crash boom bang…right into them and subtlety, or maybe not so subtlety wonder “What in the world are they doing to that kid?!?”. Well, wonder no more! This episode is all about Therapeutic Handling! Paul takes time to explain in detail why handling a pediatric patient in a certain way can reignite, or maybe ignite for the first time, neural connections that encourage the development of a strong core, proper physical alignment, encourage sensory regulation, all of which set a child up for success with life…and for PO intake! Come prepared for the passionate powerhouse that is Paul Tardy OTR/L!

56: Essential Elements for Pediatric Audiology Evaluations - Jason Wigand, MA, AuD, CCC-A Jul 17, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the delightful Jason Wigand, AuD., CCC-A, and they pick up where they left off in Episode 38, “The Spectacular Power of Listening”! As they put the cart before the horse and covered interventions last go-around, this episode is dedicated to best practices for audiology evaluations: the different types of hearing tests/assessments available, when various ones are clinically indicated, as well as when it is appropriate to seek out for an evaluation. Fast paced nerdy laughter is guaranteed in this hour of all thangs hearing assessments!

55: The Problem with Productivity - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Jul 10, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by the energetic Erin Forward, MS CF-SLP. Today is the day they take on that problematic word…”Productivity”! Fear not Friends! Not only will they define productivity, as well as it’s sister words caseload and workload, but they will discuss how productivity guidelines vary across settings, states, and offer some functional solutions to tackle productivity pressures that you may encounter in your Monday-Friday routine. Hopefully after this power-hour you will feel refreshed and energized to address any concerns head-on!

54: Ethics and Early Intervention with Dr. Elise Davis-McFarland Jul 01, 2019

In this Special Sunday Night episode, Michelle is joined by a fellow Palmetto State Lady, the one and only Dr. Elise Davis-McFarland, ASHA’s Immediate Past President. Dr. Elise is here to share her wisdom on the importance of Ethics within the Early Intervention. Crucial conversations takes place regarding the differences between Poverty and Neglect, when a DSS referral is warranted, Clinician Safety and the ethics of transferring a patient or when discharging is warranted, as well as ethical considerations for implementing the “Coaching Model” when working with a medically fragile/complex infant/toddler/child. This is mighty powerful hour with a mighty amazing woman, Dr. Elise! Enjoy and Happy Early Fourth of July!!

53: Outstanding Orientation to OT Scope of Practice - Paul Tardy, OTR/L Jun 26, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the dynamic powerhouse that is Paul Tardy, OTR/L, her dear friend, mentor, and “Big Brother by a different Mother”! Paul, owner of “PT the OT Therapy and Wellness”, spends this fast paced hour illuminating colleagues from both the EI, OT, and SLP worlds to the varied roles and responsibilities within the scope of practice of Occupational Therapy, dispels the myth of “Oh you’re the one who teach them to write and stack blocks”, and also sheds light on how to view the “whole child” and treat from a functional holistic perspective. Sit tight folks, this is a dynamic hour filled with joy, belly laughter, and definitely a few squirrels.

52: Sage Sierra Therapy Tips for Starting a Private Practice - Shawna Ross, MS, CCC-SLP Jun 19, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the one and only Shawna Ross of the Sierra Therapy Group from the far-far-far away land of Reno, NV! Together these two ASHA LDP Cohort grads tackle the fears and tribulations of what goes on behind the scenes prior to opening the doors of a private practice. Listen in as the wise and utterly delightful Shawna shares her passion that drove her to become not only a dynamic clinician, but also successful private practice owner that regularly gives back to her community through hearing screens, summer camps, and Buddy Walks!

51: Elusive IPP for the EI Clinician - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Jun 12, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP, where they will tackle the often elusive but ideal Interprofessional Practice approach for Early Intervention. Michelle and Erin, amongst countless other EI Clinicians out there in the field, often feel completely alone and isolated when treating patients in their natural environments. Do you too struggle with lack of team support, lack of open dialogue between practitioners, and do you also often feel that these breakdowns do a disservice to the patient and their progress? Well today’s episode is all about inspiring change and learning how to embrace and establish a true Interprofessional Practice in the world of EI.

50: Cortical Vision Impairments and AAC - Carol Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP, CBIS Jun 05, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by the talented Carol A. Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP, CBIS is the Director of the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) at the USC School of Medicine, from Episode 24, “AAC is more than Pictures and Velcro?!? What?!?”. Have you worked with a child who needed an AAC device, but had limited vision? Maybe they were diagnosed with a CVI and you were scratching your head as to what that diagnosis is…then afraid to move forward with functional treatment? Well… fear no more! Dr. Carol Page is here to educate us all on what a Cortical Vision Impairment is, early warning signs for a CVI if the little one you’re working with doesn’t have a diagnosis yet, and then how to go about considering an AAC device…including considering eye gaze equipment… when completing evaluations and treatments! This is an episode that has been in the works for a few years folks…you won’t want to miss it!

49: Raising Red Flags for Dyslexia - Susan Lee, MA, CCC-SLP May 29, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the multitalented Susan Lee, MA CCC-SLP, of Anderson, IN. If you’re in the world of early intervention or pediatric home health, then you probably don’t treat patients who have dyslexia on a regular basis…however I bet you have had had patients that you were concerned about! Well, Susan Lee, who was also trained in Orton-Gillingham techniques, is here to decode warning signs for dyslexia in our youngsters! She will share early warning signs, explain at what age a child can participate in a formal evaluation, as well as offer functional advice on what advice to share with a patient’s family when you do see early warning signs.

48: Serious Talk About Stuttering in Preschoolers - Craig Coleman, MA CCC-SLP, BCS-F May 22, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the highly skilled and incredibly passionate Craig Coleman, MA CCC-SLP, BCS-F, ASHA Fellow, and Candidate for ASHA VP of Planning, to discuss best practice for diagnosis and treatment of stuttering in preschool age children. As Michelle has joked in past episodes, this is not exactly her cup of tea, but Craig is here to offer evidenced based solutions that are easily implemented in ALL Natural Environments… so sit back and enjoy the practical tips delivered with Craig Coleman’s whit and wisdom!!

47: The Language of Language Assessments - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP May 15, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once by again by her dynamic First Bite partner the lovely Miss Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP. Today they jump into the data behind the Language Assessments that we use to evaluate our little ones. Specificity, Sensitivity, Validity, and even ASHA Guidelines on what is “Best Practice for Assessments” and when we should draw our proverbial line in the sand and trash a test are all covered. Be warned, there are a couple of EBP Soapboxes floating around!

46: Dr. Kay Toomey Tackling Pediatric Feeding Disorders Round 2! - Dr. Kay Toomey May 08, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by none other than THE Dr. Kay Toomey, President of Toomey & Associates, Inc., Clinical Consultant to the Feeding Clinic at STAR Institute, and developer of the SOS Approach to Feeding. In this episode, Dr. Toomey sheds light on best practice regarding the term ARFIDS, gives functional advice on what terminology should be used instead, discusses the prevalence of food allergies amongst our “picky eaters”, as well as giving functional advice for those that want to make a jump from a different setting into treating pediatric feeding disorders. It’s a whirlwind of an hour, but an hour with Dr. Toomey that is absolutely mind expanding!

45: The Balanced Speech-Language Pathologist - Cheris Frailey, MA, CCC-SLP May 01, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by the petite powerhouse that is Cheris Frailey MA CCC-SLP, Program Director with the Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations for the State of Colorado, in Jefferson County, CO, who shared insights on Conflict Resolution in Episode 28. Today Cheris shifts gears and focuses on bringing balance to our clinical selves. We uncover the true definition of balance, why we seek it and need all 4 areas of it, and then how to apply our new understanding of balance into our daily grind. Take a breath, run a bit slower, turn the volume up, and let her soothing words hit just the right spot!

44: Mysteries of Muscle Memory and AAC - Rebecca Hoke, MA CCC-SLP Apr 24, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the dynamic Becca Hoke, MS CCC-SLP, LAMP Educator with the Center for AAC and Autism, in Pennsylvania. This AAC Guru has been gracious enough to share her time with “First Bite Folks” to educate clinicians about the power of combining core vocabulary with muscle memory! Have you been to one of LAMP’s live trainings yet? Well by the end of today, you will be inspired to rethink how you approach and engage AAC in Early Intervention…and most likely will want to follow up for a full day course too! AAC has a vital role in EI, even for those with limited vision and compromised gross/fine motor abilities…AAC can open doors for functional communication and spread joy in our patients lives… Becca has the key to make that happen!

43: Mastering the Coaching Model for the EI Clinician - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Apr 17, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by her partner in nerdy SLP Adventures Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP. Have you been scratching your head trying to figure out this whole “Coaching Model” for EI? Well scratch no more! The Lovely Ladies of First Bite are going to provide the framework and guidance that explains why and how to use the “Coaching Model”, then take it another step further and address how to implement it for the medically fragile child on your caseload. Worry not, they will then offer functional advice on how to implement the “Coaching Model” with individual caregivers in the patient’s life, everyone from the Marvelous Momma to the Regal RN! Hope you enjoy the coaching on how to be a better coach!

42: How to Build a Private Practice for Beginners! - Carla Brown, MSP, CCC-SLP Apr 10, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined a Classy Carolina gal Mrs. Carla Brown, MSP CCC-SLP, Lead SLP/Owner, of SLP Services, Inc., in Whiteville, NC. Together they work to free you from the fears, spoken and unspoken, that dwell in your heart that is currently stopping you from stepping out and opening your own private practice! Carla, successful 21 year private practice business owner, offers 3 strategies for starting a private practice, 3 of the most common mistakes that new owners need to avoid, as well as how to use social media and marketing to help your business reach all those that you have been called to serve. Sit back and soak up some inspiration, served with a side of sass!

41: So about that AERODigestive Tract? - Dr. Fred Garner, ENT Apr 04, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by her mentor and friend Dr. Fred Garner, ENT, of “ENT for Kids”. Not only did Dr. Garner assist Michelle in her role as “Momma Bear”, by addressing both of her own son’s airway concerns, but he has also dramatically impacted the lives of countless children in the midlands of SC by expediting their healing process through medical management of the “aero” portion of their respective aerodigestive tracts. Do you have kiddo on your caseload that seems to be “stuck” on pureed foods, or do you have a patient that keeps hitting repeat on their upper respiratory infections, or can’t seem to shake that “junky” stridor sound at rest or in play? Well then, sit back in awe as Dr. Garner shares a lifetime’s worth of experience to help our professions better understand and support each other in the care of these little ones.

40: Functional Feeding From Birth - Diane Bahr, MS, CCC-SLP, CIMI Mar 27, 2019

In this episode Michelle and Diane tackle typical development for a healthy growing mouth, as well as a compare contrasting factors in an evaluation between bottle and breast-feeding. They round out this dynamic hour with a crash course on which team member to consult with if systems are starting to go awry.

39: Common to Uncommon Genetic Conditions and their Accompanying Functional Feeding Disorders - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Mar 20, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by Miss Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP, where they tackle some common, some not so common, and a few rare genetic syndromes…and how they can result in an oropharygneal dysphagia or feeding aversion. If you have questions regarding some basic terminology on how genetic conditions are inherited or caused…and how they correspond to a child needing services for functional feeding…well then this is the episode for you!

38: The Spectacular Power of Listening - Jason P. Wigand, AuD, CCC-A Mar 13, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the jovial Jason Wigand, AuD, Assistant Professor and Clinical Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the University of South Carolina. They have quite the talk for you! Have you scratched your head lately wondering why that patient your working with just isn’t picking up the sounds or words y’all have spent weeks addressing? But…have you seriously considered the impact of their surrounding environment on speech acquisition? How about little sister’s i-pad blaring, older brother gaming in the next room with the surround sound turned all the way up, the wash running in the machine adjacent to where you’ve been working? Those sounds impact our sessions because they limit what our little ones can hear…and Jason is “hear” today to offer functional …and fun…resources!

37: What’s the difference between SLPs and SLPA’s anyways? - Crystal A. Murphree-Holden, MA CCC-SLP Mar 06, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the esteemed Crystal Murphree-Holden, MA CCC-SLP, who is the Director of Distance Education/Clinical Instructor at the University of South Carolina, as well as VP of Higher Education with SCSHA. She was also a recent recipient of the Honors of the Association for SCSHA. In this episode Crystal and Michelle attempt to clarify the muddied waters of SLPA vs. SLP Scope of Practice! Haven’t heard of an SLPA? Well you’re not alone! Enjoy as Crystal enlightens, educates, and inspires us to consider our scopes in a new light!

36: Drowning in your CF year? You can survive this! - Leslie Wilfong, MSP, CCC-SLP Feb 27, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the picture of Southern Grace, with a side of tenacity, Miss Leslie Wilfong, MSP CCC-SLP. Are you struggling in your Clinical Fellowship? Are you feeling ill prepared for independent practicing? Or have you run into a figurative wall and don’t know how to scale it? Well, fear not! You are not alone! Join Michelle as she and Leslie troubleshoot some of the common problems that can arise during your coveted “CF Year”. Been there done that, albeit Michelle finished her’s a few years ago, Leslie just wrapped her CF and the freshly “CCC’d” source of advice that you’ve been searching for!

35: Rapid Fire Resources for Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology Issues - Erin Forward, MSP-CF-SLP Feb 20, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by her partner in all “thangs” functional pediatric therapy, Miss Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP, both of them residing in Cola-Town, SC. Tonight, Michelle and Erin rapid fire drill through some of their favorite evidenced-based resources, all to nourish the on-the-run SLP’s soul. In this episode they tackle everything from pediatric dysphagia, pediatric cerebral vascular accidents, to neurogenic language impairments…everything from explanation of etiology, dynamic diagnostics, and thoughtful therapy ideas! Are you feeling perplexed as to where to begin for professional supports? Well stress no-more, Michelle and Erin are here!

34: The National Down Syndrome Society Advocacy Team and You! - Nicole Patton Feb 13, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the lovely Miss Nicole Patton, Registered Lobbyist with the National Down Syndrome Society, at their Headquarters in Washington, D.C. While Nicole lobbies at a national level, it is more than just a “job” to her, as it comes from a place of love and compassion as she has a sister with special needs. Tune in to this episode and become educated as to what initiatives are currently being advocated for at the national level, how this can impact the patients that we treat in our own small towns, and find out how you can become involved at your local level. Bottom line…all these combined advocacy efforts positively impact the care that we deliver to our patients and Nicole is here to share how!

33: Private Practice Pet Peeves - Andi Lary, MS CCC-SLP Feb 06, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the short but sassy Andi Lary, MS CCC-SLP, South Carolina’s State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR) with ASHA, as well as Owner of The Therapy Consortium, Inc., and Owner-Director of One Stop Therapy for Kids. While she wears a variety of proverbial hats, in addition to being a phenomenal clinician, Andi has a true passion for seeing colleagues be successful managing their own private practices. She is a widely respected speaker on all “thangs” private practice and in this episode, Andi lays it out some of the most common pitfalls that new business owners make and how to persevere through them!

32: Leadership Qualities for the Modern Female SLP - Treva Graves, MS, CCC-SLP Jan 30, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the Etiquette guru co-director Treva Graves, MS CCC-SLP, of Trevagraves.com. Treva, a former Miss Iowa America winner and ASHA Leadership Development Alumni, is a highly sought after guest speaker and personal trainer in the areas of Image, Executive Coaching, and Accent Reduction. In this episode, she addresses some of the largest personal fears and failures that hold women leaders back, whether it be from moving forward in the corporate world to holding them back from starting their own business. If you need a kick, or a push to take the next personal step towards leadership, then this course is for you!

31: Critical Thinking for Clinical Case Studies - Erin Forward, MSP-CF-SLP Jan 23, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by her partner in all things nerdy mischief Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP. Today is the day where they go in and act as Speech-Language Pathology Sleuths! Are you prepared to don your deerstalker cap? (Don’t lie, you goggled that…it’s the Sherlock Holmes hat!) We tackle pediatric CVAs, EOE, Hirschsprung’s Disease, Celiac Disease, and also a quick foray into where to start when the etiology is as of yet unknown. We hope you enjoy the complexity of the cases and the joy of these patients healing processes as much as we do!

30: Never Fear… Dr. Kay Toomey and SOS Feeding are Here! - Dr. Kay A. Toomey Jan 16, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by none other than THE Dr. Kay Toomey, President of Toomey & Associates, Inc., Clinical Consultant to the Feeding Clinic at STAR Institute, and developer of the SOS Approach to Feeding. In case you haven’t heard of it, the SOS Approach to Feeding, is a bottom-up, tip-toe in the water of feeding, functional centered program for assessing and treating children with feeding problems, based out of CO. Worried about jumping two feet first into the water of feeding or dysphagia therapy, or tossing your patient into the deep in? Then sit back and relax and let Dr. Toomey resolve your fears and offer hope for functional treatment!

29: Don’t Just Feed the Babies But Feed Their Microbiome Too! - Dr. John Bagnulo Jan 09, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the self described “outdoorsman” Dr. John Bagnulo, current Director of Nutrition for Nutritional Medicinals, and resident of the beautiful state of Vermont. In this episode, Michelle and Dr. John discuss the importance of feeding our patient’s guts…critically the growth and development of the families of bacteria in their guts… and how an organic formula option can help our g-tube pediatric patients thrive!

28: “Feeding Matters” and How It Matters to You Too! - Patti Minicucci, MS CCC-SLP Jan 02, 2019

In this episode Michelle is joined by the effervescent co-director Patti Minicucci, MS CCC-SLP, of Tots to Teens Therapy Services, of Northern Virginia. Patti, a former guest speaker at the University of Mary Washington, who has also held trainings for pediatricians and other professionals, has been an Early Interventionist SLP for over 20 years! She brings with her to this episode, personal experience and passion, as she describes the Non-Profit Organization “Feeding Matters” and how this Parent Founded, yes you read that right Parent Founded, group is breaking ground across our country to make EI Pediatric Dysphagia/Feeding Therapy fearless and obtainable for all!

27: Ethics of Early Intervention - Lissa Power-deFur, PhD, CCC-SLP Dec 19, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by the powerhouse that is Lissa Power-deFur, PhD, CCC-SLP. Not only is she a professor, that Michelle can personally attest to the fact that she takes the education of her students passionately and seriously, she is also the current Vice Preside of Standards and Ethics in Speech-Language Pathology (2014-2016). Still curious about the topic of this episode? Well wonder no more…we are covering ethical dilemmas that are sometimes unique to the world of home-health early interventionist! Trust me, we run across some hum-dingers from time to time, and Dr. Power-deFur is just the lady to enlighten and encourage our perseverance.

26: Conflict Resolution for the Speech-Language Pathologist in a Conundrum - Cheris Frailey, MA CCC-SLP Dec 12, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by the petite yet formidable Cheris Frailey, MA CCC-SLP, Interstate Compact and Legal Affairs Coordinator for the Dept. of Regulatory Agencies for the State of Colorado. Join Michelle as she seeks honest and practical advice from Cheris, a former Director of State Education and Legislative Advocacy with ASHA, in the areas of conflict resolution. In short…are you in a professional pickle at work and unsure how to come to conclusion that is amicable yet fair, well, then join for functional strategies!

25: Teletherapy and Early Intervention… You Can Do It Too! - Jennifer Ruckner, MS, CCC-SLP Dec 05, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by the dynamic co-director Jennifer Ruckner, MS CCC-SLP, of Tots to Teens Therapy Services, of Northern Virginia. Jennifer, a seasoned Early Interventionist who is also a Community Ambassador for Feeding Matters, a non-profit, parent founded organization, actually specializes in Telepractice for the Early Intervention and School Age pediatric population. Yes, you read that correctly, we can do telepractice in the world of EI! Join Michelle in this episode as a whole new world of EI ST is illuminated by the lovely Jennifer!

24: AAC is More Than Pictures and Velcro? What?!? - Carol A. Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP, CBIS Nov 28, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by the esteemed Dr. Carol Page, Director of the SC Assistive Technology Program. In this episode, Dr. Page assuages listener’s fears of Augmentative and Alternative Communication! Did you know that AAC is more than pictures and a lamination machine and is in fact driven by core vocabulary with a splash of “fringe” vocabulary? Or did you know that when an SLP utilizes AAC with a patient, we are teaching them how to say what they want to say, not what we want them to say?!? If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t! One of Dr. Page’s gifts is her ability to communicate these attributes of AAC with grace and compassion, such that everyone not only understands how to use AAC, but starts to embrace it on a day-to-day basis with their patients.

23: Pass the Gravy and Start the Feeding Therapy: Understanding the Emotional Issues - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Nov 21, 2018

In this course, Michelle was joined by Miss Erin Forward, MSP CF-SLP, formally of Rochester, NY, but now of Cola-Town, SC to assist in addressing the “Emotional Baggage” that often accompanies our little ones at mealtimes! Does your family have a stressful Thanksgiving Meal? Do your patients tend to have “outbursts” during their mealtimes? Well sit back and enjoy as Michelle and Erin tackle the myth behind “oh it’s just their behaviors” and provide functional strategies for treatment when establishing a Home-Exercise Program. Bon Appetite Y’all!

22: The Enigmatic Energy and Leadership of Our Colleagues! - SLPs Wine & Cheese Nov 07, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by the dynamic duo behind the “SLPs Wine and Cheese PodCast”, Deborah Brooks, MA CCC-SLP, TSSLD and Maria Kotsonis, MA CCC-SLP, TSSLD. “What does that have to do with my continuing education,” you may openly ponder? Well, these two are shaking up what it means to be a modern day leader in the field of Speech-Language Pathology! Set aside your predisposed tendencies towards ageism and sit in awe as these two fabulous millennials inspire you to rethink your work life balance, trouble shoot common challenges, and offer inspiration on how to overcome these challenges…all while growing your evidence based practice!!

21: How to Drive Business and Engagement Online - KiKi L'Italien Oct 31, 2018

In this episode, the Michelle and KiKi address how to utilize various social media platforms to drive and market a speech language pathologist’s private practice. They tackle the troublesome concerns such as how much time and energy should a therapist spend on social media and what social media campaign should be utilized to maximize exposure and to generate business.

20: Chasing the Swallow… That Should Include ALL the Referrals! - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Oct 24, 2018

In this lively episode, Michelle is joined by the lovely Miss Erin Forward, MS, CF-SLP, formerly of Rochester, NY, but now of Cola-Town, SC to assist in “Chasing the Swallow”! Did you know an SLP can’t tackle an oropharyngeal dysphagia or a feeding disorder alone? Well folks, we can’t! Why? Because we, for lack of a better phrase, are the gatekeepers, the starting point, to the greater world of the alimentary canal! In this episode, Michelle and Erin address who should join us on the journey for PO intake and why!

19: VPI… It’s More Than Nasal Emissions, It Can Impact Swallowing Too! - Melissa Montiel, MS, CCC-SLP Oct 17, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by the gifted Mrs. Melissa Montiel, MS CCC-SLP, (see Episode 14 “Banishing Confusion for Clefts”), from the Medical University of South Carolina and the Evelyn Tramell Institute for Voice and Swallowing. In Melissa’s second lecture, we address both the speech component of VPI (velopharyngeal insufficiency), but also the more elusive and often misunderstood swallowing aspect of VPI. Sit back in awe as Melissa educates colleagues about signs and symptoms that would warrant a VPI evaluation and the steps involved during the VPI eval. If you have a patient with nasal regurgitation, then this might be perfect for you!

18: Dairy vs Soy vs What? The Correct Formula For Your Allergy and Why! - Gregg Black, MD Oct 10, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined once again by the ever-so-funny Gregg Black, MD, of Carolina Allergy and Asthma Consultants, PA. Dr. Black, from Columbia, SC, (who hails from the upstate by way of AL, NZ, and New Orleans). In this episode they put the microscope to milk and soy testing for our youngest of young patients…hoping to enlighten clinicians around the world as to the pitfalls of changing to formulas too quickly…and how to safely proceed in the perilous presence of eczema, while also tackling the other muddy mysteries of milk!

17: My Son Has What?!? One Holistic Momma Bear’s Healing Walk For Her Son’s EOE - Jennifer Tardy Oct 03, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by holistically fierce “Momma-Bear” Mrs. Jennifer Tardy, with Eating for Healing, from Millinocket, Maine, however currently residing in Lexington, SC. In this lecture we tackle EOE, Eosinophillic Esophagitis, from the unique perspective of a mother…who happens to be a nutrition coach…to learn key insights into how a devastating diagnosis was tackled with compassion, understanding, and education! Just new to the world of EOE, then this lecture is a great starting point as we are learning from a member of the front line!

16: Banishing Basic “Feeding” Myths in the World of Pediatrics - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Sep 26, 2018

In this episode, Michelle is joined by the gifted Mrs. Melissa Monteil, MS CCC-SLP, from the Medical University of South Carolina and the Evelyn Tramell Institute for Voice and Swallowing. In this lecture, we discuss the process of prenatal diagnosis of cleft and dispel misconceptions regarding feeding a little one with a cleft, especially in that first critical year. Not only does this amazing woman specialize in the subject matter for her career, but also she also freely gives of her spare time and treats patients through Global Smile Foundation around the world. Be sure to have your questions ready for this dynamic guest interview!

15: What Everyone Needs to Know About Social Media Today! - KiKi L’Italien Sep 19, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by social media guru, Kiki L’Italien, CEO and founder of Amplified Growth, a digital marketing consultancy specializing in social media, SEO, and influencer marketing.
Kiki, who regularly lectures to Speech-Language Pathologists and other medical colleagues, will focus this lecture in maintaining professionalism and navigating potential ethical pitfalls of social media…all the while teaching how to put social media to work for you, making your practice thrive!

14: Banishing Confusion for Cleft Palates! - Melissa Montiel, MS, CCC-SLP Sep 12, 2018

In this episode, Michelle is joined by the gifted Mrs. Melissa Monteil, MS CCC-SLP, from the Medical University of South Carolina and the Evelyn Tramell Institute for Voice and Swallowing. In this lecture, we discuss the process of prenatal diagnosis of cleft and dispel misconceptions regarding feeding a little one with a cleft, especially in that first critical year. Not only does this amazing woman specialize in the subject matter for her career, but also she also freely gives of her spare time and treats patients through Global Smile Foundation around the world. Be sure to have your questions ready for this dynamic guest interview!

13: So you’re telling me allergy testing is important? - Gregg Black, MD Sep 05, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by the charismatic Gregg Black, MD, of Carolina Allergy and Asthma Consultants, PA. Dr. Black, from Columbia, SC, (by way of Clemson, SC, Birmingham, AL, Whangaeri, NZ, and New Orleans, LA), shares the process by which infants, as young as 30 days, can begin safely assessing for food allergies and the best way to go about the diagnostic process. This lecture is the perfect starting point for clinicians as they learn to recognize early s/s of potential food allergies and its affect on feeding and how to offer guidance on helping our patients reach out to an allergist.

12: To Bag or Not to Bag? True Struggles of a “Bagless” Early Intervention SLP! - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Aug 29, 2018

In this bold and brazen episode, Michelle is joined by the lovely Miss Erin Forward of Rochester, NY, where they take on an age old debate of “to-bag” or “not-to-bag” in the world of Early Intervention. Best practice guidelines, everything from ASHA to the WHO, are discussed, then real-world advice on how home-health speech therapists can implement these guidelines in a home where resources are limited and poverty is high is tackled. Put your bags and fears aside, as Michelle and Erin provide joyful and practical interventions.

11: Have a Business… Now How Do I Drum Up the Business? - Jennifer Tardy Aug 22, 2018

In this episode Michelle is joined by business savy Mrs. Jennifer Tardy, with “PT the OT Therapy and Wellness, originally from Millinocket, Maine, however currently residing in Lexington, SC. In this lecture we tackle the largest fear of small business owners, “how do we ethically obtain referrals?”. Jennifer, a successful Director who currently manages referrals for three different businesses, offers her functional/practical insight into how you too can make it in the world of habilitation/re-hab…and still maintain your glass-half-full disposition!

10: Setting Supervision Straight - Juliana Miller, MS, CCC-SLP Aug 15, 2018

In this course Michelle is joined by the charming Mrs. Juliana Miller, from Columbia, SC…and together they address problematic practicum placements and the “do’s” vs. the “do not’s” of clinical supervision, as well as to highlight the upcoming 2020 ASHA changes to supervision…all from the perspective of a Director of External Clinical Practicums.

9: AAC and ECSE and Literacy…those three words can be in the same sentence fragment? - Diane Postman M.Ed Aug 08, 2018

In this podcast, Michelle is joined by the dynamic Mrs. Diane Postman of Yorktown, VA to demystify how AAC and emergent literacy can work in an ECSE classroom with a “push-in” approach. We are not talking swapping out pictures for objects here folks, but data drive core-vocab with real-life examples! Hilarity, albeit in a geeky fashion, does occur in this most functional of discussions!

8: So… We Have That Tube and Now the Speech Pathologist is Going to Get Them to Eat… Right? - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Aug 07, 2018

In this podcast, Michelle is joined by the lovely Miss Erin Forward of Rochester, NY. On the menu: common terminology for our pediatric populations with feeding tubes, emphasis on quality not quantity feeds, and addressing long-term planning…stressing the motto of “fed is fed is fed” and that some of these little ones do need a feeding tube for nourishment and PO for quality of life.

7: Teamwork… What? IFSP to IEP… it too can happen! - Karina McCollum Jul 25, 2018

Ms. Karina McCollam, ECSE teacher, joins Michelle for this interview, where we have that crucial conversation about IFSP to IEP transitions. Do you despise that “ohhh-to-common” breakdown in communication during this critical period too? Sit back and enjoy as functional strategies are discussed to address this concern.

6: You want to breastfeed, but wait, I’m the SLP? Part 2 - Abbey Bishop, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC Jul 18, 2018

This episode is the second in a two part series with Abby Bishop. In this
course, we take a closer look at what is covered in a lactation evaluation
and when/where referrals are warranted.

5: Don’t Faint, Your Little One Needs a Feeding Tubes... and Here is Why... - Jeremy Ponds, RD Jul 11, 2018

Michelle is joined again by Jeremy Ponds, RD with Path of Life Nutrition, as he tackles the nitty gritty about who is a candidate for a feeding tube, how flow rates are configured…get your calculator ready!... and the implications of TPN for the little ones we treat.

4: Pediatric Dysphagia Evaluation in Home Health…. Wait, What… We Can do That… and Bill For It? - Erin Forward, MSP, CF-SLP Jul 04, 2018

Michelle is joined by the lovely Erin Forward of Rochester, NY, where they tackle hard questions facing the world of pediatric speech therapy. In this episode, the roles are reversed and Erin asks Michelle about special considerations when completing a pediatric dysphagia/feeding eval in the home health/natural environment setting.

3: It’s NOT Just a Millennial “Thang”, Anxiety is Real. - Stephanie Schank Jun 27, 2018

In this course, Michelle has a frank conversation with Stephanie Schank regarding student clinician fears and anxiety disorders that are more than a “Millenial thang”. Discover how real life heartbreak can lead to a powerful place of healing and serve as an inspiration to clinical supervisors to educate our students with compassion and patience.

2: You Want to Breastfeed, But Wait, I’m the SLP?!? Part 1 - Abby Bishop, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC Jun 20, 2018

Join Michelle as she interviews Abby Bishop, MA CCC-SLP CLC, for an episode where we traipse through the tangled intersection of Speech Therapy and Lactation Counseling. Sit back in awe as she clarifies the confusion and encourages peers to join her cause of “SLPs can become CLC’s too!”

1: So What Really is in That Formula… And What’s It Doing to Our Patients? - Jeremy Ponds, RD Jun 15, 2018

In this episode Michelle interviews licensed dietitian nutritionist Jeremy Ponds and he explains what types of feeding formulas are available, how each of the different types of formulas processed/utilized in the body, and what are the usual reasons why a child may be placed on one formula rather than another.

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