First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional SLP Insights

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.