The Speech Link with Char Boshart

Explore the powerful relationship between speech practice and language development in individuals with Down syndrome.Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLPEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PDWatch on YoutubeIn this 2-part episode of Speech Link, host Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP, sits down with Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP. Together, they unpack why frequent speech production plays such an important role in expanding utterance length and supporting the development of grammar and syntax. Jennifer explains how repetition helps strengthen cognitive-linguistic skills while also improving voice, prosody, and overall speech clarity. Clinicians will come away with a clearer understanding of why speech practice matters and how to incorporate it intentionally into therapy to support language growth.About the Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP, is a certified speech-language pathologist with 20 years of experience treating individuals with speech, language, and feeding delays and disorders. She has spent the last 12+ years specializing in communication and feeding for individuals with intellectual disabilities and motor speech disorders.Show Notes:Contact Jennifer: @speechconnects or @lets.chat321 on InstagramGrays Peak Speech ServicesConnected SpeechJennifer’s Book: “I Can Learn”Related Courses:Independent Communication for those with Down Syndrome in the SchoolsUse Strengths and Needs of Those with Down Syndrome to Improve Speech ClarityThree Super-Techniques to Foster Academic Success for Those with Down Syndrome

What if the most powerful way to boost a child’s language skills isn’t in the therapy room—but in everyday moments at home?Guest: Mary Lou Brecht Johnson, MS, CCC-SLPEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PDWatch on YouTubeMary Lou Brecht Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP, joins host Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP, on this episode of the Speech Link podcast to explore parent coaching strategies that go beyond the ordinary to boost children’s language development. Parents want and need to know what they can do between therapy visits to help their children talk better. Coaching parents to optimize their daily verbal interactions benefits children, and some ways of talking are more effective than others for promoting verbal turn-taking and language growth.About the Guest: Mary Lou Brecht Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a native of Akron, Ohio, and earned her BA at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH. Then, after completing her master’s degree in Speech & Hearing at Washington University in St. Louis, Mary Lou headed to Denver for her first clinical position and never left. For over 40 years as a speech-language pathologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Mary Lou honed her methods while helping children and their parents.

Guest: Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/feeding-and-swallowing Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, joins host Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP, for a practical, relationship-centered conversation about building strong, trust-based partnerships between families and school teams. Drawing on real-world experience, Carolyn shares strategies to help clinicians move beyond checklists and build meaningful collaboration that consistently supports students across settings. The discussion focuses on respectful ways to involve families, address challenges as they arise, and align educational supports with medical and home-based care. You’ll walk away with actionable ideas you can use right away to strengthen communication, reduce friction, and support better feeding and swallowing outcomes through shared understanding and teamwork. About the Guest: Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing assessment and intervention within the public school system. Her work is deeply rooted in supporting students and school-based teams through evidence-informed, practical dysphagia care. Through her graduate-level teaching, Carolyn prepares the next generation of school-based dysphagia providers to lead with confidence and competence. Through her private practice, Bite-Sized Advice, she offers consultation and dysphagia support to school teams nationwide. An internationally recognized speaker and published author, Carolyn is known for her dynamic, engaging presentations that bring school-based feeding and swallowing services to life. Carolyn is also the host of the School of Speech Podcast.

Guest: Tricia H. Rogers, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/orp-the-missing-piece Every moving body part has an ideal place to rest when not in use, and the moving mouth parts are no different. In this episode, Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP, is joined by Tricia H. Rogers, MS, CCC-SLP, to explore Oral Resting Posture (ORP) and why it is often the missing piece in remediating speech and supporting carryover for preschool and school-age children. Char and Tricia define a desirable oral resting posture and highlight common characteristics of undesirable ORPs frequently observed in young learners. They explain how ORP positions the lips, tongue, and jaw in an efficient operating zone that supports stability and movement for accurate sound production and connected speech. The episode also provides practical, developmentally appropriate ways to introduce ORP concepts to preschoolers and school-age children, with clear expectations for therapy. Char and Tricia share ORP techniques that build self-monitoring, improve muscle endurance, and support habituation so gains extend beyond structured practice and into everyday communication. About the Guest: Tricia H. Rogers, MS-CCC, is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist with nearly 30 years of experience in the field. For over two decades, she has specialized in orofacial myofunctional disorders, working with children to improve their breathing, oral rest posture, and overall oral function. Alongside running a private practice, Tricia mentors, presents, and consults with professionals nationwide. She is also the creator and author of Miss Tongue and Friends—a children’s book series that makes myofunctional concepts simple, fun, and engaging. These books are now being used by therapists, educators, and families as practical resources to support healthy oral development and lifelong habits. Through her Miss Tongue and Friends books, Tricia is bringing these important skills to children around the world in a way that feels playful, approachable, and empowering.

Guest: Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, PhD, CCC-SLPEarn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/coaching-caregiversIn this episode of The Speech Link, Char Boshart, MA, CCC-SLP, talks with Dr. Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, PhD, CCC-SLP, who shares creative and practical ways SLPs can coach families to build language through everyday routines.From talking during mealtime to reading together before bed, Dr. Roseberry-McKibbin highlights simple strategies that make a significant impact. She also emphasizes the importance of helping caregivers understand developmental milestones so they can feel confident supporting their child’s growth with love, talk, and reading.About the Guest: Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, Ph.D., is the daughter of Baptist missionaries who lived with her parents in the Philippines from ages 6 to 17. She quickly acclimated to the culture of the United States and earned her doctorate degree in speech-language pathology from Northwestern University. Currently, she is a Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at California State University, Sacramento, and a part-time speech pathologist in the San Juan Unified School District. She provides services for pre-schoolers through high school. She especially enjoys working with culturally and linguistically diverse students who have communication disorders, as well as those from low-income backgrounds. In addition to her practical experience, Dr. Roseberry-McKibbin has authored over 70 publications, written 16 books, and delivered nearly 400 presentations throughout the United States and internationally. She is an ASHA Fellow and winner of ASHA’s Certificate of Recognition for Special Contributions in Multicultural Affairs, and received the national presidential Daily Point of Light Award for her volunteer work in building literacy skills of children in poverty. Notably, she recently delivered an excellent TED Talk, which earned her a standing ovation. Her topic? “Is ignoring children for devices creating language delay?”

Guest: Adina Soclof, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode-Originally Aired: July 2021-This one-hour course provides practical information and strategies to successfully manage disruptive and challenging student behaviors during therapy sessions. Adina provides effective ways to motivate and engage students to create an inviting therapy environment to stimulate cooperation and more responsible and respectful behavior conducive to learning.

Guest: Stephanie LoPresti, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=Dynamic-Methods-to-IdentifyIn this episode of The Speech Link podcast, host Char Boshart and guest Stephanie LoPresti, a seasoned speech-language pathologist, discuss dynamic methods for identifying language abilities and therapy needs. The conversation covers financial disclosures, Stephanie's extensive experience in the field, and her commitment to early intervention. Stephanie shares insights into her passion for assessing young children, the importance of working within the zone of proximal development, and how she applies dynamic assessment techniques in various settings. Learn about practical strategies for engaging children in assessments, the role of parent and teacher collaboration, and the multifaceted nature of speech therapy. A must-watch for speech therapists seeking innovative and effective assessment methods.Episode Timeline:00:00 Introduction and Disclosures00:54 Meet Our Guest: Stephanie LoPresti02:26 Stephanie's Journey to Early Childhood Assessment05:04 The Importance of Dynamic Assessment06:09 Understanding the Zone of Proximal Development11:56 Dynamic Assessment in Practice27:58 Challenges and Techniques in Pragmatic Assessment34:25 The Dynamic Role of Speech Pathologists35:21 Understanding Developmental Milestones37:20 Introducing the Protocol for Assessment41:31 Dynamic Assessment in Practice51:45 Engaging Parents in the Therapeutic Process59:37 Closing Remarks and AcknowledgementsAbout the Guest: Stephanie LoPresti, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD, is a speech-language pathologist with over a decade of diverse experience in medical, academic, and private settings. She has served clients from infancy through geriatrics, and her expertise extends to speech and language disorders, feeding and swallowing, cognitive impairments, and augmentative communication. Stephanie exemplifies a special commitment to patient-centered care and is an experienced Clinical Fellowship and Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant supervisor. Most notably, Stephanie is the author of the comprehensive and evidence-based guide The Speech & Language Protocol: An Assessment Tool for Early Years. This resource enhances assessment and service delivery. In addition, she presents academic lectures and professional development seminars.

-Originally Aired: November 2018-Guest: Nina Reeves, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-FEarn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=SchoolAge-Stuttering-Therapy-Essentials-for-SLPs-298In this insightful episode, Char Boshart interviews Nina Reeves, a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist and specialist in fluency disorders. They discuss essential aspects of stuttering therapy for school-age children, emphasizing the importance of revisiting personal mindsets about stuttering. Nina Reeves shares her extensive experience and knowledge, offering practical tips and strategies for effective stuttering therapy. Topics include the role of parents and teachers, updating therapeutic approaches based on current research, and the differences in therapy for different age groups. Additionally, Nina provides valuable resources for further learning and professional development.About the Guest:Nina Reeves is a board-certified specialist in fluency differences and the Director of Stuttering Therapy Resources. She has been a career-long public school clinician who specializes in stuttering therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults. As an author and presenter, she aims to provide practical information to clinicians working with stuttering students.

-Originally Aired: January 16, 2020-Guest: Susan Haseley, MS, CCC-SLPEarn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=How-to-Move-Beyond-Inconsistent-RProductions-179In this course, Susan, an experienced school SLP, shares her practical tips and techniques on /r/ remediation and much more. She describes what children with r-distortions are doing and not doing intra-orally. She also shares her observations and first-hand experiences of using the Bite-R therapy device and tactile therapy to remediate her speech-kids. This course is very informative and practical.About the Guest:Susan Haseley received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Illinois State University. Her career has taken her to Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where she has primarily worked in schools. For 45 years, she has been married to her high school sweetheart, Roger. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. They love traveling to places they have never been to and trying new foods and activities. She invented the Bite-R when she was unsuccessful in remediating the R sound for two young boys. Her passion has caused her to champion the R sound and all its problems.

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=How-to-Effectively-Supervise-Future-SpeechLanguage-PathologiThis one-hour course explained the ASHA supervision expectations and five additional practical guidelines for effectively supervising practicum for graduate students in any setting. Numerous details were provided regarding supervision of the evaluation/diagnostic process, treatment implementation, professionalism, and the importance of flexibility.About the Guest:MariBeth Plankers, MS, CCC-SLP, ATP, is a Clinical Supervisor and the Regional Assistive Technology Center Facilitator at Minnesota State University Moorhead, a lending library of Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology tools. MariBeth teaches at the clinic and practices Speech-Language Pathology in autism spectrum disorders, augmentative alternative communications, and telepractice.

Guest: Sharlet Lee Jensen, MS, SLP, C-AAISEarn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=Insights-Ideas-in-the-Role-of-Animal-Assisted-Interventions-This episode explores animal-assisted intervention (AAI) in speech therapy. Sharlet explains the process and benefits of active and inactive animal involvement in addressing communication goals. She also explains what to look for in a therapy animal partner and how to try AAI through the “diamond model” of partnering with a volunteer team. Sharlet sees a positive future for AAI in speech therapy.

Guest: Hope Reed, SLP.D., CCC-SLP, COM®, ASHA Fellow - Dr. Reed shares practical techniques for SLPs in counseling and guiding clients, their families, and others. She says, “It is important to remember to address the person, not just the disorder.” Also, “When we have an agenda, listening stops.” She discusses the qualities of an effective counselor and universal strategies and mantras that can be effectively applied across settings and populations.

Guest: Beth Bergstrom, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode provides answers regarding Velo-Pharyngeal Incompetence (VPI) and how to diagnose a submucous cleft from other diagnoses differentially. She shares specific methods to recognize a submucous cleft as a structural issue that only improves with surgical intervention; she explains why. You’ll learn treatment options that are dependent on the characteristics before and after repair.

Guest: Lauren Baron, PhD, CCC-SLP - Many children with language impairments also have difficulty with executive function (EF); however, the relationships between language and EF are unclear. Dr. Baron summarizes what is known about inner speech--the use of self-directed language—and how it affects EF in children with and without language impairments. She also shares implications for clinical assessment and interventions.

Guest: Rachel Arntson, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode addresses an important dilemma: Am I on the right therapy track with my young children, and am I coaching their caregivers correctly? Rachel addresses these issues through 7 critical developmental skills and organizes them in a format and framework for you to increase your confidence and effectiveness with children and their caregivers.

Guest: Hope Reed, SLP.D., CCC-SLP, COM®, ASHA Fellow - This episode explores the need for orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) information and practical application for clinicians and our university programs. Dr. Reed, a university professor, established the world’s first university-based clinic for those with OMDs. She shares OMD info and trends as well as her 20-year efforts to generate awareness of this important and much-needed area.

Guest: Elaine Fogel Schneider, PhD, CCC-SLP & Deborah Ross-Swain, EdD, CCC-SLP - This episode explores the importance of developing confidence and joy in school-aged children who struggle with learning differences. The presenters pinpoint the confidence and joy robbers, e.g., events and experiences, and list the red flags of those at risk. They discuss social-emotional health issues and how professionals can intercede to build teams of support. The role of the SLP is highlighted.

Guest: Jayanti Ray, PhD, CCC-SLP - This episode explores articulation therapy, motor control, proprioceptive feedback, and neuroscience. Details are provided for the neural connections to acquire and maintain oral motor behaviors and the oral resting posture. Efficient neural programming of the tongue, jaw, lips, and velum enables optimal speed and precision of movement for speaking. What happens, and what do we do when it doesn’t?

Guest: Susie Appleman, MA, CCC-SLP, COM® - The use of myofunctional evaluation and therapeutic strategies can be invaluable in the remediation of many speech sounds, such as, /l/, /s/, /z/, and /r/. In addition, the sounds are more likely to remediate if the tongue rests in the correct position. We’ll focus on students who can produce the targeted sounds in words, etc. but have difficulty generalizing them into spontaneous speech.

Guest: Rachel Arntson, MS, CCC-SLP - Have you ever wanted to use music in your therapy but were unsure how? Learn simple, direct, and fun methods from Rachel Arntson. She shares strategies to use music to improve imitation, receptive and expressive language, speech sound productions, sound blending, and more. Music is a “magical” tool to build social interaction and is a fun way to incorporate the home practice of targeted skills.

Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - Research states that speech use drives language use through phonological memory and motor planning. However, those with Down syndrome are often encouraged to use nonverbal strategies (sign language, AAC, etc.) ahead of their speech abilities. Is this the best and most beneficial? This course investigates the research, rationale, and several alternatives. Practical therapy strategies will be shared.

Guest: Karyn Lewis Searcy, MA, CCC-SLP - This course defines ambiguous loss and how it can impact caregiver-child interactions. Ms. Searcy specifies how to assist families during stressful times and events, including the difficulties of communication disorders and delays. She covers the stressful details that caregivers can experience and how, if not addressed, it can negatively impact positive interactions and learning for the child.

Guest: Holly L. Storkel, PhD, CCC-SLP - Developmental language disorder (DLD) has gone by many names. Why does the name matter, especially when it doesn’t match the terminology used in schools (e.g., IDEA) or medical settings (e.g., ICD)? In this course, we will explore how and why you should share the term DLD with families and other team members.

Guest: Teresa Farnham, MA, CCC-SLP - We have explicitly known for over 3 decades that parents influence their child’s language development—especially vocabulary—with the quantity and quality of their input and interactions. In the 1980s, Hart & Risley conducted a remarkable research project examining the differences in preschool children's verbal environments. You’ll learn the pertinent and practical results that you can apply.

Guest: Jacqueline Towson, PhD, CCC-SLP - This course outlines practical strategies to implement during shared interactive book reading. Embedding techniques will be shared to facilitate language and emergent literacy skills with young children with language impairments, developmental disabilities, or those considered at-risk. Considerations for book selection, preparation, setting, and environment will be discussed.

Guest: Holly L. Storkel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - This course presents a variety of practical methods to enhance and systematically guide treatment success for children with speech sound disorders. For example, did you know that selecting complex sounds as your treatment target can accelerate speech sound learning? Or, that there are better ways to contrast sounds than conventional minimal pair treatment? All of this and more will be explained in detail.

Guest: Licia Coceani Paskay, MS, CCC-SLP - This course provides an overview of chewing that’s been researched within the medical and dental fields. Chewing is an overlooked and underestimated function that has a significant and well-documented impact on swallowing. Implications are covered from infants to the elderly. Chewing should take a more prominent role, especially in swallowing disorders.

Guest: Deborah Ross-Swain, EdD, CCC-SLP - School-aged children with language and learning differences are at risk for education trauma; some feel defeated. They’re often labeled as unmotivated, ADHD, lazy, unfocused, or oppositional. SLPs are a part of a collaborative team that can recognize and avoid this trauma and boosts a child’s educational success, confidence, and joy. Numerous practical and easy-to-apply strategies will be covered.

Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - We must find ways to motivate those with Down syndrome to join their peers in learning. Strategies for active listening, retrieving known information, and planning and executing speech allow them to perform better academically and become independent. This podcast shares three simple and essential strategies to address complex communication issues specifically for students with Down syndrome.

Guest: Kristin Martinez, MA, CCC-SLP - Kristin shares practical information on Therapy Essentials, a comprehensive therapy platform and teletherapy training option for both school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and SLPs in the clinical setting. She clarifies and outlines the full features and benefits of Therapy Essentials that can be used to deliver teletherapy, and within hybrid speech-language services

Guest: Janice M. Wright, MA, CCC-SLP - Ms. Wright discusses the issues of conflict resolution rather than conflict management related to the supervision of speech-language pathology supervisees.  She shares constructive definitions, analyzes the typical views of conflict, identifies conflict styles, and tactfully imparts techniques to effectively resolve disputes positively and productively.

Guest: Ray D. Kent, PhD - Diadochokinesis (DDK) has been in our field for almost a century and has applications in many specialties. A scoping review found 360 DDK articles and has been associated with diverse etiologies: motoric, structural, sensory, and cognitive. Its popularity notwithstanding, it is not unquestioned as an assessment tool. However, it has been used across a spectrum of disorders and as a proposed biomarker.

Guest: Sandra Combs, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - Some clinicians avoid using research to guide their practice due to implementation challenges that appear controlled or too large to apply to their population. Dr. Combs outlines data collection and procedures on how to utilize single-case research to improve therapy quality. Her goal is to bridge the clinical world and the academic world of speech-language pathology to meet client needs better.

Guest: Shari Gross, MA, CCC-SLP - Selective mutism is an often misunderstood social pragmatic communication disorder. For many children, within their selective silence, their social pragmatic issues mask additional communication disorders: articulation, semantics, syntax, processing, and even autism spectrum disorders. This course introduces SLPs to the evaluation and treatment strategies of children with selective mutism.

Guest: Bryan Gick, Ph.D. - In this research studies and strategies episode, the importance of posture in speech production will be discussed. Posture is vital in motor systems as a precursor to all movements. Maintaining speech articulators in stable postures provides a motor foundation for all speech sounds and movements. Learn how lingual postures shape speech sounds, how postural positions can help in therapy, and how posture governs facial expressions, phonation, and velopharyngeal port control. Prepare to change how you view speech!

Guest: Megan Panatier, MS, CCC-SLP - After visiting all 72 branches of the Los Angeles Public Library with her daughter, Megan was blown away at the quality and quantity of the FREE materials and activities available for speech and language therapy and literacy use. She tells of their journey, what she learned and how she applies the rich resources in her therapy to enhance reading enjoyment and verbal participation.

Guest: Nicole Archambault, EdS, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC - Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can jeopardize development, performance, and health. SDB is within the SLP’s scope of practice. We have knowledge of oral functions (speaking/swallowing/chewing), craniofacial structures, respiration, oral rest postures, and executive skills, SLPs can help mitigate SDB. We’ll cover research and management strategies within an interdisciplinary framework.

Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - Speech clarity is possible for many of those with Down syndrome. New therapy techniques in motor speech, voice, and executive functioning are emerging and present viable options. Several were discussed: How to generate active engagement, voice-based methods, and how to encourage frequent practice to accelerate speech and language used to improve comprehension for success and independence.

Guest: Lisa Chattler, MA, CCC-SLP - This course covers the concept of instructing “questions” in our 8+ year old students. Students’ perception of classroom involvement can impact their willingness to take question-asking risks. Ms. Chattler shares details on how to support our classroom teachers, and how to create relevant lessons to address the processes of understanding, answering, and formulating questions.

Guest: Adina Soclof, MS, CCC-SLP - This one-hour course provides practical information and strategies to successfully manage disruptive and challenging student behaviors during therapy sessions. Adina provides effective ways to motivate and engage students to create an inviting therapy environment to stimulate cooperation and more responsible and respectful behavior conducive to learning.

Guest: Melissa Burk DeLange, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Melissa reaches out to school SLPs who are discouraged and burnt out. From experience and much reading and research, Melissa shares her Four Pillars for Thriving in the public schools. She discusses what is within the SLP's control, what is not, and what can be influenced even without control. She details suggestions for time management and how to create positive interpersonal relations.

Guest: MariBeth Plankers, MS, CCC-SLP, ATP - This episode explained the ASHA supervision expectations as well as five additional, practical guidelines on how to effectively supervise practicum for graduate students in any setting.  Numerous details were provided regarding supervision of the evaluation/diagnostic process, treatment implementation, professionalism, and the importance of being flexible.

Guest: Karyn Lewis Searcy, MA, CCC-SLP - This 1-hour course focused on practical and effective therapy techniques for the early intervention child with significant speech delays. It provided numerous insights and ideas to work online as well as in person to improve the child’s communication skills. Specific and doable strategies were shared to inspire and empower parental involvement.

Guest: Teresa Farnham, MA, CCC-SLP - Terri presented how language sampling and analysis is an effective, authentic, and reliable method to establish baseline speech and language performance as well as periodically evaluate progress. She refreshed our skills in language sampling and analysis, and how these basic principles can be effectively applied in the school practice setting for evaluation as well as documentation.

Guest: Sarah Armstrong, MA, CCC-SLP - Based on two decades of experience, Sarah freely discussed the issues and responsibilities of being a Master Clinician in the schools and how to effectively guide the Graduate Student Clinician. She disclosed several critical components: how to share expectations, how to maintain a constructive ongoing dialogue, and how to hone-in on essential skills and provide constructive feedback.

Char shared real-world solutions on how to effectively manage difficult parent/caregiver situations. She emphasized that issues tend to occur when parents do not know a therapist’s motivation, his/her capability level or work ethic. Many detailed communication reactions and response options were provided, as well as a system to build parental support and even teamwork.

Guest: Jayanti Ray, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Dr. Ray shared the common signs, symptoms, and conditions that impact voice disorders in school-aged children and therapy techniques to mitigate them. In addition, she covered the importance of vocal health and several ways maintain vocal quality and agility in children.

Guest: Jayanti Ray, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-F - In this course, Dr. Ray shared a wealth of evidence-based information and anecdotal examples about those with Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). Topics included: what is VCD and signs and symptoms of episodes, several causal options, and many treatment techniques and strategies. The information pertained mostly to school-aged children, but also briefly discussed adults with VCD.

Guest: Nina Reeves, MS, CCC-SLP, BRC-FD - In Nina’s follow-up to her previous episode, she continued to share her extensive knowledge on the evidence-based views, analysis, and therapy of neurologically based stuttering for individuals 5 years and older. She provided informative answers as to why our typical stuttering therapy is not always effective, as well as five therapy prerequisites complete with insights and activities to use in comprehensive, successful stuttering therapy.

Guest: Tricia H. Rogers, MS, CCC-SLP - This one-hour podcast explores the of characteristics of oral habits (thumb/finger sucking, nail biting, extended pacifier use) of primarily the school-aged child.  It addresses the rise in oral habits due to the change in routines and lifestyle during COVID-19 and what can be done.  Several causes and consequences of thumb/finger sucking are discussed, as well as many extinguishing strategies, including several ideas for parents to implement at home.