American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Tips for Making a Successful Cleft Palate Team Referral
A school-based speech-language pathologist is assessing Eleanor, age  6, when she notes an unusual articulation pattern and nasal quality to Eleanor’s speech. Although Eleanor does not have a cleft palate, the SLP has concerns about palatal function and wants to refer her to a team of professionals specializing in disorders of resonance and velopharyngeal function for further assessment. She asks, “Where do I begin?” Most people with a cleft palate begin working with an interdisciplinary team at birth. However, SLPs occasionally need to seek the guidance of such a team when they suspect velopharyngeal dysfuncti...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - October 1, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology cleft palate Speech Disorders velopharyngeal dysfunction Source Type: blogs

ASHA Responds to WSJ Op-Ed on Rapid Prompting
In a letter to the editor published in the Sept. 27 Wall Street Journal, ASHA President Elise Davis-McFarland defends ASHA’s positions that discourage the use of facilitated communication and the rapid prompting method (RPM). The letter is in response to a Sept. 23 op-ed piece in the same publication, written by a blogger with “nonspeaking autism” who claims he learned to communicate with RPM. “Readers [of the op-ed] may come away with the impression that ASHA is the only organization that doesn’t recommend RPM,” Davis-McFarland says in the letter, noting that the associations for communication sciences and di...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 28, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Carol Polovoy Tags: News Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Source Type: blogs

11 Tips to Improve a Child ’s Communication Using Signs
We see it every day with our young clients: When they’re hungry, thirsty, hurt, tired, or want a specific toy or activity, they whine, scream, point or grunt as their means of communication. This nonverbal communication creates a guessing game for the parent, caregiver or speech-language pathologist. Sometimes they guess correctly, but when they don’t, everyone involved can get frustrated, especially the child. If you work with clients who fit this description, I find signing provides good results with most young children and their families. Signing offers a useful and calming communication tool for many situations. I�...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 26, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Jill Eversmann Tags: Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Early Intervention hearing loss Language Disorders Speech Disorders Source Type: blogs

Transitioning Into Adulthood for Students Using AAC
As a speech-language pathologist focusing on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for nearly 20 years, I worked with all ages and a variety of complex communication needs. This broad experience helped give me perspective on how communication changes over the life span, specifically in the transition from school to adulthood. I think it’s important to understand and anticipate future communication needs of our clients. How does communication change after transitioning from school age to adulthood? Goals. For school-based SLPs, many treatment targets focus on specific curriculum and other academic goals. Althou...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 24, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Rebecca Eisenberg Tags: Advocacy Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Autism Spectrum Disorder Speech Disorders Source Type: blogs

Punk-Rocker-Turned-Audiologist Protects Musicians ’ Hearing
Audiologist Anthony Kovacs understands the hearing dangers of being a musician. Before he began spending his days protecting peoples’ hearing, he put his own at risk. Kovacs sang with punk band Shot Baker—he still performs and records with them occasionally—and worked at live music venues when he wasn’t on stage. Now he focuses his full-time practice on treating people with tinnitus. He still goes to music festivals and performances, but usually as more than an audience member. Last month he took a group of audiology students from his alma mater—University of Northern Colorado—to the Bohemian Nights festival. T...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 21, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: Audiology Health Care News Slider tinnitus Source Type: blogs

5 Ways to Simplify Fall Transitions for Students —and SLPs, Too
Transitioning to the school routine after the summer break can challenge anyone. Any child might struggle with pushing bedtime back when it’s still light out and adjusting to eating lunch at a new time. Those with speech-language or social communication deficits find the shift in routine especially difficult. As speech-language pathologists working with children, we can help our clients or students tackle this transition every year. During my more than 20 years working with children, I’ve discovered a few strategies to lay the groundwork for a more productive fall. Admit and recognize that transitioning is hard. Studen...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 19, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Kristina Peterkin Tags: Academia & Research Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: blogs

Spotlight on SIG 6, Hearing and Hearing Disorders: Research and Diagnostics
Members of SIG 6 work to provide a forum for collaboration between researchers and clinicians to translate research into evidence-based practice related to hearing and balance.  Read on for Keith Wolgemuth’s first-hand experience. When did you join your ASHA special interest group (SIG)—and what made you want to join? I joined SIG 6 in early 2016, initially to complete a one-year term left by a colleague who needed to fulfill other professional commitments. Within three months, I was in a position to fill a vacancy as the SIG 6 associate coordinator, by virtue of being the only person on the committee at that tim...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 17, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Keith Wolgemuth Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Health Care Schools Slider Aging and Hearing Loss Hearing Assistive Technology hearing loss treatment hearing research Source Type: blogs

‘Atypical ’ Season 2 Adds Actors and Consultant With Autism
The Netflix series “Atypical” shares the story of a high school boy with autism facing the challenges of romance and achieving independence. The show originated last year and the second season recently aired. The first season was criticized for not using an actor with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to play the main character, Sam. The show has responded with new episodes that include eight actors and a writing consultant who all have ASD. Through improv, teens with autism tap into their inner comedian while building social-communication skills.  Broadway Performances Aimed at Audiences With Autism Children who use AA...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 14, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: News Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Autism Spectrum Disorder Source Type: blogs

How to Help Elementary Students Understand ‘ Uniqueness ’
“Do you know what a disability is?” I asked this question to students in third- through fifth-grade classes. Some students gave an answer, but most struggled to form thoughts on the topic. I decided to raise our students’ awareness of their classmates with disabilities. At South Walker (Louisiana) Elementary, I treat students in our significant disabilities classroom, several resource classes and two special-needs pre-K classes. I wanted our typical students to better understand their special education classmates, so I hosted an event called “Understanding Uniqueness.” The event helps educate ...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 12, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Lauren Miley Tags: Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Advocacy Augmentative Alternative Communication Autism Spectrum Disorder Source Type: blogs

How SLPs Can Foster Bilingual Skills in Students on the Autism Spectrum
In a recent online chat, SLP and bilingual researcher Betty Yu shares strategies for encouraging students and families to communicate in their heritage language. Participant: Is there ever an age or circumstance where you feel it is too late to start exposing a child to their heritage language? Betty Yu: It’s never too late to start learning one’s heritage language. Just as it’s never too late to learn any additional language. A common occurrence in the U.S. is people start seriously learning (or re-learning) their heritage languages as adults, often in college, once they’re mature enough to underst...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 10, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Betty Yu Tags: Academia & Research Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Apraxia of Speech Autism Spectrum Disorder bilingual Speech Disorders Source Type: blogs

Dangers of Increased Earwax With Age
Earwax protects our delicate hearing mechanism from dirt and other airborne particles. And any audiologist or physician will tell you there’s typically no need for most people to clean the goop out of our ears. (In fact, improper cleaning could injure the eardrum and ear canal.) However, as people get older, the chances of potentially harmful earwax (cerumen) buildup increase. According to an article from CNN, approximately two-thirds of the more than 2 million people living in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in the U.S. might have a severe buildup of earwax called impaction. “The excessive amount [...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 7, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: Academia & Research Audiology News Slider Health Care Source Type: blogs

Why I Went to ASHA ’ s Advocacy Day and Plan to Go Back
Do you remember those cellular commercials that bombarded us with the catchphrase, “Can you hear me now?” Guess what? Over time, it worked. A number of people switched their phone service to the company … maybe not because of the catchphrase itself, but possibly because of the totality of the message, repeated time and time again. A simple and efficient message changed minds and perspectives. And we can do the same when it comes to advocating for our professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. I’m an audiologist and not a minister, so I don’t need to preach to the choir regarding these issues,...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 5, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: David Alexander Tags: Advocacy Audiology Slider Schools speech-language pathology Telepractice Source Type: blogs

3 Questions to Ask Clients About Their Vocal Care
Our voice represents our rich inner world of thoughts, feelings, wants and needs. It is an instrument—and every instrument needs careful maintenance for optimal function When providing voice treatment to my clients, I can’t stress enough the importance of a vocal hygiene protocol. Some recommendations are standard, such as adequate water intake and using a humidifier at home. But to give my clients the best opportunities for improvement, I like to go beyond the basics. To accomplish this, I take a holistic dive into the diet, lifestyle and environment the client encounters daily. This insight can shed light on factors ...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - September 4, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tina Babajanians Tags: Health Care Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Speech Disorders Voice Disorders Source Type: blogs

Summer ’ s Greatest CSD Posts
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists, did you miss some of what’s happening in the CSD world this summer? Don’t worry—this list can help you catch up on the most popular posts from the past months. Many audiologists and SLPs wanted to learn about beneficial telepractice platform features, a community-wide campaign to limit screen time, the hearing health dangers of spin class, and ASHA’s new certification program for audiology and speech-language pathology assistants. Here are the top 10 posts your peers clicked on, read and shared: Clear video, screen-sharing and a zoom feature are just some aspects of a ...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - August 29, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: Audiology Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Autism Spectrum Disorder hearing loss Schools Technology Telepractice Traumatic Brain Injury Source Type: blogs