Host Laura Smith and Apraxia Foundation president Jordan Levan sit down with Nicole Kolenda, a clinical researcher at the NYU Motor Speech Lab with over 25 years of experience treating childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Nicole shares her journey from undergrad fascination with apraxia to her current role as the lead treatment SLP on an NIH-funded study examining DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing).

The conversation covers the evolution of CAS diagnosis and treatment over the past three decades and Jordan's personal experience growing up with apraxia, and the ongoing need to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. Nicole introduces the STRIVE framework — a goal-setting tool developed at the NYU Motor Speech Lab to help clinicians select meaningful, individualized therapy targets. Each letter represents a key consideration: Syllable structure, arTiculatory transitions, Response to multisensory cueing, phonetic Inventory, Vowel errors, and lexical strEss (emphasis).

Nicole emphasizes the importance of "making the shift" from thinking about speech sounds to thinking about movement, incorporating principles of motor learning, finding each child's challenge point, and selecting functional, motivating words. The STRIVE framework is available for free on the NYU Motor Speech Lab Instagram page.

You can email Nicole directly at [email protected]

Can childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) be diagnosed before age three? According to doctoral candidate Hannah Valentine's groundbreaking research, the answer is yes, but 40% of speech-language pathologists don't believe it can be.

In this episode of the Apraxia Foundation podcast, hosts Laura and Jordan sit down with Hannah Valentine, a doctoral candidate at New York University and former early intervention SLP, to discuss her research paper "Clinician's Perspectives on Diagnosing and Treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech in Children Under Three Years Old."

Hannah shares the personal story that sparked her research journey: an 18-month-old patient with classic CAS presentation who nearly fell through the cracks due to widespread misinformation about early diagnosis. Her study reveals that not only do 40% of clinicians believe CAS cannot be diagnosed before age three, but 52% would not share a CAS diagnosis with families of children under three, even when they suspect it.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the "can't diagnose before three" myth persists in the field
• How survey design reveals authentic clinical beliefs and practices
• The role of ASHA guidelines in perpetuating misinformation
• Why early diagnosis matters for intervention and family support
• The disconnect between clinical suspicion and family communication

Whether you're an SLP, parent, or advocate, this conversation challenges long-held assumptions and provides evidence-based insights into early CAS identification.

Find Hannah's work on her website

https://www.hannah-valentine.com/

Email: [email protected]

References

Valentine HC, Keller S, Harel D, Grigos MI. Clinicians' Perspectives on Diagnosing and Treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech in Children Under 3 Years Old. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2026 Jan 13;35(1):266-283. doi: 10.1044/2025_AJSLP-25-00215. Epub 2025 Dec 12. PMID: 41386789; PMCID: PMC12805812.

In this episode of the Apraxia Foundation Podcast, hosts Laura Smith and Jordan LeVan welcome special guest Tali Kellerstein. Together, they dive deep into the use of books in speech therapy, especially for children with apraxia. Tali shares her journey, practical strategies, and the benefits of integrating picture books into motor speech therapy. The conversation covers the importance of contextualized language, how to select and use books for different therapy goals, and ways to make sessions more engaging and effective. They also discuss Tali’s own book, “Party Animals,” and offer tips for both clinicians and parents. Whether you’re a speech-language pathologist, educator, or parent, this episode is packed with actionable insights and resources for supporting children with apraxia through literature.

Listen in for expert advice, favorite book recommendations, and creative ideas to enrich your speech therapy sessions!

Come chat with Dr. Tara Mcallister, linguist and speech/language pathologist alongside Amy Graham, speech/language pathologist as they discuss motor in phonology.

References:

Articulation and Phonology: Inextricable Concepts in Speech Pathology

Positional Neutralization: A Case Study from Child Language

Language-Specific and Language-Universal Aspects of Lingual Obstruent Productions in Japanese-Acquiring Children

Tara McAllister is a linguist and speech-language pathologist who studies speech learning in various populations, notably children with speech sound disorder. Her research aims to understand how articulatory and perceptual factors shape speech learning outcomes, and why developmental speech patterns resolve in some individuals but persist in others. As director of the Biofeedback Intervention Technology for Speech (BITS) Lab at NYU, she has conducted multiple studies measuring the efficacy of acoustic and ultrasound biofeedback in the treatment of persistent speech sound deviations.  She earned an A.B./A.M. in linguistics from Harvard University, an M.S. in communication disorders from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in linguistics from MIT.

Amy is a speech language pathologist and owner of Graham Speech Therapy. She is an international speaker, frequent podcast guest, and creator of speech therapy resources for SLPs who treat speech sound disorders.

Join us in this inspiring episode as I chat with the incredible Nancy Kaufman, Mimi Branham, & Aravind Namasivayam about the effectiveness of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP) for children with apraxia of speech. Nancy dives into the key principles of K-SLP, shares practical strategies for therapists and parents, and highlights some amazing success stories. If you’re looking for tools and inspiration to help kids overcome speech challenges, this episode is a must-listen. Let’s explore how K-SLP can truly make a difference in the journey toward clearer communication!

In this episode of the Apraxia Foundation Podcast, hosts Laura Smith and Jordan Levan sit down with Dr. Edythe Strand — the pioneering researcher behind DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing) — to discuss her 50-year journey developing evidence-based treatment for childhood apraxia of speech. Dr. Strand shares how she adapted adult motor speech techniques for children, why treating apraxia requires a fundamental shift from thinking about sounds to thinking about movement, and her advice for clinicians implementing DTTC. Jordan and Laura also share personal stories — Jordan as someone who grew up with severe apraxia, and Laura as both a clinician and parent of a child with CAS.

Laura Smith and Jordan LeVan from The Apraxia Foundation speak with Dr. Julie Case, Dr. Jenya Iuzzini-Siegel, and Nancy Tarshis to debunk the myths about DTTC therapy for childhood apraxia of speech. They discuss current findings about DTTC, the true definition of play-based therapy, and the importance of building feelings of safety with our loved ones with childhood apraxia. 

Join us on "Voices of Change," brought to you by The Apraxia Foundation, as we dive deep into the intricacies of the public school system and the challenges Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) face within it. In this episode, we welcome special guest StraightupSLP, who shares her firsthand experiences navigating the public school district and transitioning to running a successful private practice. Discover the obstacles SLPs encounter, the systemic issues at play, and potential solutions to create a more supportive environment for both professionals and students. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that aims to advocate for change and improve the landscape of speech-language pathology in public education.

In this episode of The Apraxia Foundation Podcast, we tackle one of the most frequently asked questions in our community: "Will my child ever talk?" Join Laura Smith, our professional advisory board member, and Jordan LeVan, Founder & President of The Apraxia Foundation, as they provide insights, share personal experiences, and discuss the latest research on childhood apraxia of speech. Together, they offer hope, practical advice, and a deeper understanding of the journey toward communication for children with apraxia.

In this episode of The Apraxia Foundation Podcast, join host Mikayla Treynor, founder of Sandy Speaks Therapy (Instagram: @sandyspeakstherapy), as she delves into the crucial advocacy efforts aimed at addressing childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) in the state of Michigan.

Mikayla sits down with representatives from The Apraxia Foundation to explore the challenges faced by children with CAS in Michigan and the strides being made in advocating for their rights to access comprehensive communication support, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods.

Listeners will gain insight into the initiatives undertaken by The Apraxia Foundation to raise awareness, educate policymakers, and enact change in policies and services to better serve children with CAS and their families across Michigan. From legislative advocacy to community outreach, discover the multifaceted approach employed to ensure that every child has the opportunity to communicate effectively and thrive.

Tune in to this enlightening conversation and learn how you can contribute to the ongoing efforts to support individuals with CAS and promote inclusive communication practices in Michigan and beyond. Don't miss this empowering episode of The Apraxia Foundation Podcast.