Advertise on podcast: Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs

Difficulty swallowing pills may point to a broader concern involving swallowing or functional communication. Guest: Katie Decker, MA, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Katie Decker, MA, CCC-SLP, to discuss pill dysphagia, an often-overlooked challenge that can affect medication adherence, safety, and overall health. Renee and Katie examine the factors that can make swallowing medication difficult, including pill size, shape, and texture, as well as swallowing physiology, cognition, and underlying neurologic conditions. About the Guest: Katie Decker, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Specialist with PatCom Medical, where she focuses on providing clinicians nationwide with access to state-of-the-art swallowing and voice diagnostic equipment to enhance their practice and patient care. She has previously worked in a variety of medical settings, including owning and operating a Mobile FEES business in Iowa.

Communication disorders can have far-reaching consequences in healthcare. Guest: Hilary Sample, MA, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Hilary Sample, MA, CCC-SLP, to examine how conditions such as aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia of speech, and cognitive-communication disorders can create barriers to receiving high-quality medical care. Together, they discuss why effective communication is critical to healthcare and what clinicians across settings need to know. About the Guest: Hilary Sample, MA, CCC-SLP, is a medical speech-language pathologist and co-founder of MedConcerns. Drawing on her experience in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation, she partnered with a physician to develop practical tools that help healthcare teams communicate more effectively with patients who have aphasia and other communication disorders. Show Notes: Hilary Contact: @medconcerns @hilarysampleslp MedConcerns: https://medconcerns.com/ References: Kagan et al. (2024). Journal of Communication Disorders, 107, 106390 Bartlett, Blais, Tamblyn, Clermont & MacGibbon (2008). CMAJ, 178(12), 1555–1562 Hurtig, Alper & Berkowitz (2018). Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 3(12), 99–112 Freeman-Sanderson, Morris & Elkins (2019). Australian Critical Care, 32(5), 373–377Shand, Foster, Baker & O'Halloran (2024). International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology Simmons-Mackie et al. (2010, 2016) systematic reviews on communication partner training (CPT) Clarification: Bartlett et al. (2008) found that among patients who experienced preventable adverse events, 46% of those with communication problems experienced multiple events, compared with 20% of those without communication problems.

Developing expertise in voice disorders takes more than what is learned in graduate school. Guest: Moriah Douglas, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Developing expertise in voice disorders takes more than what is learned in graduate school. In this episode of Brainstorms, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Moriah Douglas, MS, CCC-SLP, to discuss how mentorship, clinical experience, and lifelong learning help speech-language pathologists build confidence in the assessment and treatment of voice disorders. About the Guest: Moriah Douglas, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist specializing in acute and outpatient medical rehabilitation. She earned her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2024 after completing undergraduate degrees in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of South Alabama and Athletic Training at the University of West Florida.

How can we incorporate brain health into everyday clinical practice? Guest: Jennifer Ruckner, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Brainstorms podcast host Renee Garrett, MSED, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Jennifer Ruckner, MS, CCC-SLP, for a practical discussion on how speech-language pathologists can incorporate brain health into everyday clinical practice. Together, they break down the neuroscience behind neuroplasticity, cognitive reserve, and lifestyle factors that influence brain function, while exploring what brain health really means across the continuum of care. About the Guest: Jennifer Ruckner, MS, CCC-SLP, is a seasoned speech-language pathologist with over three decades of experience across Early Intervention, school districts, and private practice. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in Communication Disorders from Auburn University and has practiced since 1990. Jennifer specializes in Social/Pragmatic Language, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Expressive Language Disorder, and Feeding Disorders. Show Notes and Resources: First Things First (Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board): This state-funded organization explicitly publishes these exact percentage benchmarks in their The First Five Years and general Brain Development guides to emphasize the importance of early childhood. [1, 2, 3]The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University: Harvard's research on early brain architecture and "serve-and-return" interactions serves as the scientific foundation for these milestones. They document that the brain's physical volume and synaptic pathways undergo their most rapid, critical expansion during this 0-to-5 window. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]National Institutes of Health (NIH): Public health studies track these figures based on physical brain weight and volume growth, explaining how a newborn's brain starts at about 25% of adult size, doubles in the first year, and hits the 90% mark around age 5. [1, 2]

Health-literate communication is essential to effective speech-language pathology practice. Guest: Richard Zraick, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, Richard Zraick, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE, joins host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, to discuss practical, evidence-informed strategies for making clinical communication clearer, more accessible, and more actionable. Together, they examine common barriers to patient understanding and share practical ways to organize information, reduce cognitive load, use plain language without sacrificing clinical accuracy, incorporate teach-back into everyday practice, and create patient education that better supports individuals with communication disorders, cognitive impairments, and varying literacy levels. About the Guest: Richard Zraick, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE, is Professor and formerly the Founding Director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida. He is a Fellow of the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association. He is also a Certified Health Simulation Educator. He completed his Psychology B.A. (’84) and Speech and Hearing Science M.A. (’87) at the University of Arizona, followed by a Ph.D. from Arizona State University (’98). Show Notes: Examining Patient-Provider Language and Interactions in Healthcare (EXPLAIN) Lab

Why Do Intent, Intensity, and Neuroplasticity Matter? Guest: Laura Langer, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Laura Langer, MS, CCC-SLP, to examine the evidence behind the SPEAK OUT! program and why intentional speech production plays such an important role in treating individuals with Parkinson's disease. Together, they discuss the research supporting SPEAK OUT!, the principles of motor learning and neuroplasticity that guide the program, and how repetition, intensity, and salience work together to create meaningful improvements in communication. About the Guest: Laura Langer, M.S., CCC-SLP, serves as the Chief Clinical & Research Officer at Parkinson Voice Project, where she is committed to advancing evidence-based care for individuals with Parkinson's disease. She has an extensive background in medical speech-language pathology and clinical education, with a strong focus on neurologic communication and swallowing disorders.

Guest: Valerie James Abbott Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, welcomes Valerie James Abbott, parent-advocate and national leader in hearing health awareness, for an important discussion about late-onset hearing loss. Because many children with late-onset hearing loss pass their newborn hearing screening, later-developing hearing changes can be easily missed. Valerie shares both her personal experience as the parent of a child with late-onset hearing loss and her work advocating for improved hearing screening, family support, and better outcomes for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. About the Guest: Valerie James Abbott is the parent of a child with late-onset hearing loss. As a parent-advocate and leader, she worked for the Center for Family Involvement at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University, supporting families of children recently diagnosed with hearing loss. She served as the first parent ever elected chair of the Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program Advisory Committee, and she led the nonprofit Hands & Voices' return to Virginia. Follow Valerie IG: valerie.james.abbott

What happens when the clinician suddenly becomes the patient? Guest: Laura Morgan, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIST Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Rehab for SLPs, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Laura Morgan, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIST, for a deeply personal conversation about Laura’s experience navigating life after brain injury while also carrying the insight and perspective of a rehabilitation professional. About the Guest: In 2012, after Laura Morgan earned her master’s in Speech-language Pathology, she started her clinical fellowship in Frederick, Maryland. Halfway through the fellowship, Laura was a buckled passenger in a serious motor vehicle accident. She sustained a moderate-to-severe brain injury in the accident, but as a result of the long rehab process, she gained a unique perspective on head injury in the field of Speech Pathology. Laura Morgan IG: 📍 SLP_TBI Show Notes: Contact Laura Morgan IG: 📍 SLP_TBI

Guest: Sarah Tucker, PT, NCS, AIT, BRM Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube This episode of Brainstorms: Functional Rehab for SLPs features Sarah Tucker, PT, NCS, AIT, BRM, discussing the vital role adaptive fitness can play in long-term neuro recovery after formal rehabilitation ends. For individuals living with stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and other neurological conditions, recovery is often a lifelong process. This conversation explores how adaptive fitness programs can help rebuild strength, confidence, identity, and connection while supporting meaningful participation in everyday life. Renee and Sarah highlight the growing intersection between rehabilitation and inclusive fitness, emphasizing how movement impacts not only physical function, but also cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. About the Guest: Sarah Tucker, MPT, is a physical therapist with over 17 years of experience in inpatient rehabilitation and 8 years in outpatient neurological therapy. She earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, in 2002 and has spent her entire clinical career in Newport News, Virginia. Sarah Tucker IG: Uncharted_Adaptive_Fitness

Botulinum toxin is widely used to correct fine lines and wrinkles, but what happens when its effects extend beyond the intended target? Guest: Megan McCue, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Rehab for SLPs, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Megan McCue, MS, CCC-SLP, to take a closer look at the mechanism of action behind Botox and how localized chemodenervation can, in some cases, lead to broader, systemic consequences. About the Guest: Megan McCue, MS, CCC-SLP, is a California-based home health speech-language pathologist and the author of Iatrogenic Botulism 101: A Guide for Doctors, Nurses, and Other Healthcare Providers. She is passionate about working with adults with neurodegenerative diseases and raising awareness among clinicians about the often-overlooked adverse effects of botulinum toxin injections. Show Notes: www.iatrogenicbotulism.com Book - Iatrogenic Botulism 101: A Guide for Doctors, Nurses, and Other Healthcare Providers

Why is understanding the brain-gut connection important for SLPs? Guest: Dr. Camille Thélin, MD, MSc, and Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Emerging evidence continues to highlight the complex, bidirectional relationship between the brain and the gastrointestinal system, with important implications for speech-language pathology practice. In this episode of Brainstorms, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Dr. Camille Thélin, MD, MSc, and Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, to explore disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) through the lens of hypervigilance and sensory processing. About the Guests: Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is a medical speech-language pathologist (SLP) board-certified by the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (BC-ANCDS). She currently evaluates and treats complex, multiphase swallowing, voice, upper airway, and motor speech disorders as part of a multidisciplinary team at the University of South Florida Joy McCann Culverhouse Center for Swallowing Disorders in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Camille Thélin, MD, MSc, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of South Florida (USF), where she has served on the faculty since 2019. She is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the USF Neurogastroenterology & Motility Center, launched in 2024 to expand coordinated, multidisciplinary care for complex lower GI motility disorders. As part of this effort, she also helped establish USF’s in-house anorectal manometry program to improve access and continuity of care across the region. Show Notes: 3rd Annual Swallowing Symposium in honor of Dysphagia Awareness Month (June 2026)

What happens between therapy sessions often determines whether progress carries over or fades. Guest: Zach Smith, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs, Zach Smith, MS, CCC-SLP, and Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, take a closer look at how app-enabled neurorehabilitation is reshaping the way clinicians support patients beyond the therapy room. As digital tools become more integrated into care, they are helping shift intervention from episodic sessions to more continuous, real-world practice. About the Guest: Zachary “Zach” Smith, MS, CCC-SLP, received training from both Boston University and the MGH Institute of Health Professions, and has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for the past decade. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of neurologically based communication and swallowing disorders and has experience across the medical continuity of care. Show Notes: Constant Therapy Mentioned in this episode: Register for the Aphasia Discourse Conference on June 7

Guests: Rebecca Klam, PsyD, and Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Functional dysphagia is often treated as a physical issue, but for many patients, swallowing is shaped just as much by the brain as it is by the body. In this episode, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Rebecca Klam, PsyD, and Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, to explore the psychological side of dysphagia and why perception, not just physiology, matters. About the Guests: Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is a medical speech-language pathologist (SLP) board-certified by the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (BC-ANCDS). She currently evaluates and treats complex, multiphase swallowing, voice, upper airway, and motor speech disorders as part of a multidisciplinary team at the University of South Florida Joy McCann Culverhouse Center for Swallowing Disorders in Tampa, Florida. Rebecca Klam, PsyD, serves as Section Chief of Psychology and the founder and Director of the Digestive Disease Behavioral Medicine Program at Tampa General Hospital, a leading academic medical center in Florida. A Clinical Health Psychologist by training, she specializes in eating disorders, obesity medicine, and complex digestive diseases, with advanced expertise in gastrointestinal (GI) psychology. Mentioned in this episode: Register for the Aphasia Discourse Conference on June 7

Guest: Lisa Thornburg, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Lisa Thornburg, MS, CCC-SLP, to explore how rehabilitation can extend beyond the clinic to support connection, identity, and meaningful participation for individuals living with aphasia. About the Guest: Lisa Thornburg, MS., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist for over 30 years, working at every level of care in adult neurorehabilitation, including acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and home health care. Lisa is the Director of the Snyder Center for Aphasia Life Enhancement (SCALE) and the Multiple Sclerosis Day Program at the League for People with Disabilities Mentioned in this episode: Register for the Aphasia Discourse Conference on June 7

*****Originally Aired: October 16, 2025***** How do emotional well-being and psychological safety influence communication recovery? Guest: Jaime Bauer Malandraki, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD In this episode of Brainstorms, we look at the often-overlooked role of mental health in education and rehabilitation. Guest Jaime Bauer Malandraki, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, and host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, explore the emotional toll of mental health challenges faced by students and patients, as well as the role of SLPs and teachers in creating trauma-informed, empathetic environments. About the Guest: Jaime Bauer Malandraki, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. She received her bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her primary clinical and research interests lie in the evaluation and management of swallowing disorders across the lifespan, with a special emphasis on neurodegenerative conditions and head and neck cancer. Mentioned in this episode: Register for the Aphasia Discourse Conference on June 7