First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional SLP Insights

In this episode, Michelle and Erin are bringing the highlights of the ASHA Convention 2022 to you. So, if you couldn’t make your way to the “Big Easy” this past November, the ladies of “First Bite” have you covered with some of their favorite eye-opening, evidenced-based practice expanding, and joyful tips for growing as a pediatric clinician. So, if you want to learn more about aspects of motor learning for treating pediatric feeding disorder, what the evidence says regarding tethered oral tissues, or catch the latest information on school-based service delivery for all things pediatric feeding and swallowing, then this is the episode for you.

Guest: Erin Gravino Jeffords, OTR/L, MS, PAMCO, CBIS - Erin Jeffords, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy with Lenoir-Rhyne University, discusses the impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and how it impacts patient’s access to care. Geographical location, access to reliable transportation, access to reliable forms of communication, and even access to affordable internet can all impact our ability to provide services, our patient’s ability to find services, and/or our patient’s ability to follow through with the recommendations for intervention that we deliver. Join Erin and Michelle for an hour of hope and support for discovering and overcoming SDOH for improved patient outcomes.

In this episode, Michelle and Erin deep dive into one of Erin’s favorite topics, “The Intentional Relationship Model.” This model, which is well understood within the occupational therapy world, is just starting to carry over into the speech therapy realm. So, join Michelle and Erin for an hour dedicated to interprofessional education for improved interprofessional practice. By the end, you’ll better understand what “The Intentional Relationship Model” is, why we should utilize it within our treatment sessions, and strategies to implement it to build your therapeutic presence and use of self.

Guest: Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - Michelle is joined once again by Dr. Johnson, the Associate Director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research, member of the ASHA Board of Ethics, and Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing. The last time Dr. Johnson was a guest on “First Bite” was in February 2020. A month later, the world changed, and so has NBASLH! Over this hour, Dr. Johnson joyfully shares the new initiatives that NBASLH has taken these past two years. Looking for opportunities to mentor future generations of speech-language pathologists, to participate in intimate monthly conversations on cultural considerations, and to enhance your leadership skills, join in as these topics will be explored.

Guests: Donna Edwards, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Elizabeth Daly, MS, CCC-SLP - If you have heard about the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD) but were unsure about what this phenomenal non-profit organization does, then this is the hour for you!! Founded by individuals with dysphagia and lead speech-language pathologists in the field of dysphagia, NFOSD has grown tremendously since 2006. From research support for dysphagia across the life continuum to clinical and patient education, teaching skills for self-advocacy, and free support for patients and caregivers via numerous platforms and their free zoom monthly meetings, NFOSD has something for everyone.

Guest: Morgan Oates, MA CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Morgan, a Ph.D. student in the Speech and Hearing Science Department at The Ohio State University with a Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Disability Studies. Morgan’s research interests include the implications of double empathy theory in terms of the effects of neurotype on language and communication, neurodiversity-affirming supports for adolescent and adult autistic individuals, and the intersections of gender and autism. In this episode, Morgan provides clinicians and caregivers with insight into what neurodiversity and double empathy are and how they relate to communication. She then takes us on a joyful journey of how we can provide neurodiversity-affirming communication support for adolescent autistic individuals.

Guest: Sarah Grier Brumfield, MS, CCC-SLP - Sarah shares tips for successfully navigating a clinical fellowship year. Graduate school may lay the foundation for clinical knowledge and skills for one's CF. Still, advocacy, resiliency, mentorship, and establishing healthy boundaries are crucial to ensuring a positive clinical fellowship experience. But where does a CF turn to for advice and guidance? How can a CF supervisor fulfill the needs of their CF effectively? Sarah Grier shares her favorite resources and personal lessons learned and offers wisdom for navigating those final steps towards your "CCC"!

Guest: Allison Bean, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - The episode is dedicated to understanding and growing our knowledge of the neurodiversity affirming practice. Allison, Associate Professor with The Ohio State University, and Topic Co-Chair for the Autism Committee for ASHA 2023 in Boston, who focuses her research on language development in nonspeaking autistic individuals and outcomes in individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication, will guide us on our journey to better engage in neurodiversity-affirming AAC practice. By the end of this spirited conversation, you will walk away with new strategies to support autistic children and their caregivers as they start their AAC journey.

Guests: Donna Edwards, MA CCC-SLP, BCS-S, F-ASHA, Memorie Gosa, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, & Georgia Malandraki, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, F-ASHA - The guests hold a crucial conversation regarding the ethical utilization of social media as it correlates to pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. We have all had those moments when we are scrolling on our phones and seen a post that either made us leap for joy, or stare in disbelief. We’ve seen new accounts that present as “specialists” within the PFD community, but the reel that they share make us scratch our heads and question their validity. Maybe you’ve seen an announcement of a new research article being published… and been filled with an overwhelming sense of hope for our patients and their caregivers and the trajectory of our field. For better, or worse, social media influences how we practice with our patients…but we need expert guidance in how to be consumers and purveyors of this medium while still adhering to our professional code of ethics. That’s what this hour is planning to do: guide your decision-making, infuse you with discernment, and leave you optimistic that you too can master the art of social media consumption and production within the frame of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.

Guest: Clay Hadden, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Clay Hadden joins Michelle to discuss evidence-based approaches for AAC. Clay is a proponent of functional access and implementation of AAC and spends the hour discussing common barriers and pitfalls new AAC clinicians fall into, such as difficulty in authentic vocabulary selection, communication breakdowns in caregiver coaching, and the most common, not taking the time to establish a true bond before attempting AAC implementation.