Speech Scope Episode 24: Surviving the ICU: How Can Communication Reduce PICS?

Vanessa Abraham, MS, CCC-SLP, author and ICU survivor, joins host Sarah Baar for a powerful conversation that bridges clinical practice with lived experience. Together, they explore how communication access in the ICU can shape recovery and why trauma-informed care is essential across all rehab disciplines. Vanessa shares her personal journey with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), offering practical strategies and poignant insights for clinicians like you. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how communication can reduce trauma, and why it just might be the most important intervention you provide.Learning ObjectivesAnalyze the evidence around trauma-informed communication practices to reduce the mental and emotional impacts of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) in critically ill individuals and their familiesApply evidence-based, practical strategies to actionably address communication barriers in individuals in the ICU setting, including the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools to enhance communication access and informed decision-makingSolve patient case scenarios involving individuals at risk for PICS by identifying unmet communication needs, selecting appropriate interventions, and constructing care plans that align with trauma-informed and ethical clinical practiceTimestamps(00:00:00) Welcome(00:00:05) Introduction to executive functions and neurodiversity(00:02:23) The executive function express program(00:06:54) Understanding interoception and executive function(00:12:16) The train model: visualizing executive function(00:16:32) Recent research on executive functions(00:20:31) Practical applications for therapists(00:30:23) Supporting children with varying needs(00:52:53) Parting thoughts and actionable stepsSpeech Scope is brought to you by Medbridge. If you’d like to earn continuing education credit for listening to this episode and access bonus takeaway handouts, log in to your Medbridge account and navigate to the course where you’ll find accreditation details. If applicable, complete the post-course assessment and survey to be eligible for credit. The takeaway handout on Medbridge gives you the key points mentioned in this episode, along with additional resources you can implement into your practice right away.To hear more episodes of Speech Scope, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.medbridge.com/speech-scope⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you’d like to subscribe to Medbridge, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.medbridge.com/pricing/