First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional SLP Insights

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!

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.

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.

*** This episode is not available for ASHA CEUs.****

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 every day. Billing concerns, patient abandonment, and the new 2020 ASHA Code of Ethics updates are all covered in this episode, which 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!

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!

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!

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)

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!

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!

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!