ASHA Voices

SLP Joe Duffy, who has spent decades with the Mayo Clinic treating motor speech disorders, shares some of the stories that stick with him—from surprising neurological conditions to functional speech disorders. And, he dissects what we can learn from these memorable patients and the way they spoke.

If clinicians and families aren’t speaking the same language when treating pediatric swallowing disorders, things can get confusing — and dangerous — says today's guest on the podcast. SLP Laura Brooks discusses her work with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative, or IDDSI. The nonprofit has been developing and implementing resources that standardize measurements for thickene...

What some SLPs have considered a “hidden disorder” is receiving attention. Earlier this year, the Department of Education clarified that Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) could be recognized under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. To reflect and expand on this update, DLD advocates Kelly Farquharson, Tiffany Hogan, and Karla McGregor join the podcast to detail the work...

What have we learned from the first year of OTC hearing aids’ availability? A panel of audiologists with distinct perspectives on the devices—informed by their varying professional experiences—discuss uptake, patient satisfaction, and common misconceptions. Plus, hear what our guests hope year two and beyond might hold for these devices.

In this episode, we look at what artificial intelligence (AI) might mean for people with swallowing disorders, as part of our continuing series of conversations about AI's influence on audiology and speech-language pathology. Vanderbilt University’s Cara Donohue shares her experience with this burgeoning technology before discussing implications and practical applications. Hear why she considers t...

From hearing aids to cochlear implants, from tinnitus to speech-in-noise, AI is everywhere. On this episode, professor Fan-Gang Zeng (UC Irvine) discusses where audiologists may see AI show up next, and the promise this technology holds for assessment and treatment.   Zeng’s research focuses on the ways hearing and the brain are linked, like through tinnitus or with cochlear implants. At the 2023...

From the moment a patient approaches their primary care provider about balance problems, the road to recovery can be long and expensive. But audiologist Devin McCaslin (University of Michigan) is working to simplify that path and reduce costs--using artificial intelligence. This technology can help patients receive needed care, and McCaslin discusses how an AI system, which he helped to develop, c...

In his book “Every Waking Moment,” author Christopher Anderson shares in unflinching detail the pain he experienced related to stuttering—both as a young person and into adulthood. But he also recounts how a series of personal decisions and a single business card slowly changed everything, putting him on the road to self-acceptance. Anderson joins the podcast to discuss his life and his book, incl...

Ten years after “Paperboy,” the story of a boy who stutters, resonated with audiences and won the Newbery Medal, its author Vince Vawter joins the podcast to discuss it. In the novel, protagonist "Little Man" takes over a paper route and finds empowerment, gaining confidence in himself and in his ability to communicate. Vawter talks about his own experiences as a person who stutters, and how peopl...

You may have seen a sometimes contentious element of contracts--the non-compete agreement--in the news lately. Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission recommended eliminating these clauses, claiming they decrease competition. Non-compete agreements are used to prohibit employees from leaving one workplace to join or create a competitor. Some employees believe the agreements limit their car...

SLP Kia Noelle Johnson speaks about cultural responsiveness in work with people who stutter and the role of culture in the presentation, assessment, and treatment related to this speech disfluency. It’s a matter Johnson notes is particularly relevant for school-based SLPs. Later in the episode, hear from a future SLP who is creating a space for vulnerable conversations about the experience of bein...

Meet two audiologists who use their clinics on wheels to reach people who have unaddressed hearing loss. From designing their space to finding their clients, these audiologists tell us what it’s like to run a business and serve patients on the road. These conversation were originally published in November 2022.

Guests explore the ways in which conversation can play a role in fighting social isolation for people with aphasia, as well as provide an important way to experience community and connection. First, the hosts of the Brain Friends podcast – Angie Cauthorn, an advocate for people with aphasia, and SLP Seles Gadson. The duo discusses their aphasia-centered podcast and address the critical role of con...

The University of Memphis’ Sarah Warren says studying public health allowed her to reimagine her career as an audiologist and connect her work to larger communities. She shares why and how she is incorporating public health concepts into the education of the next generation of audiologists. Plus, does it feel like you've been hearing more about public health in recent years? Warren explains the re...

SLP Emily Kornman discusses her work as a part of Team Gleason, a nonprofit supporting people with ALS. When ALS erodes someone’s ability to speak, many turn to augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC, to find their voice. Kornman discusses her work with AAC devices and voice and message banking. Plus, we’ll hear a first-hand account from a family Kornman assisted with message banking i...

How do society’s expectations of people who stutter affect those speakers’ experiences?   As a person who stutters and as an SLP specializing in stuttering, Chris Constantino of Florida State University discusses how concepts like neurodiversity and the social model of disability can influence and inspire intervention. He shares what these ideas mean to him and how they might look if they’re appli...

People with disabilities affecting speech, language, and voice are at higher risk for avoidable health care errors and negative health care outcomes, says SLP Megan Morris, a faculty member at the University of Colorado. Her work addresses health care disparities experienced by people with disabilities and disabilities related to communication. She discusses the role that CSD professionals play in...

Amanda Piper is one of just a few audiologists in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago. Inspired by a personal connection, Piper traveled to the U.S. to study audiology, and today, she works as a clinical audiologist for the Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Hearing Impaired. In recounting her education at UNC Greensboro and Vanderbilt University and career path back to her home country, ...

How can a blow to the head result in difficulties with hearing and listening? Audiologist Gail Whitelaw discusses what clinicians may want to consider when assessing or treating a person who's had a brain injury. She tells the story of one patient's long road to hearing care after acquiring a TBI during the Boston Marathon bombing. Plus, author and researcher Nina Kraus (“Of Sound Mind”) takes us...

SLP Edythe "Edy" Strand joins the podcast for a conversation on apraxia of speech--the focus of her decades-long career. When it comes to differential diagnosis, the work of SLPs in this area can be challenging, she acknowledges. Hear her discuss its distinguishing characteristics and explain the difference between treating apraxia of speech and other disorders. Strand also describes how she appro...

With the arrival of a new student who uses hearing aids and American Sign Language, two University of Memphis audiologists began looking into hearing accessibility in the university setting. On the podcast, Lisa Lucks Mendel and Jennifer Taylor share how they sought creative accommodations in the classroom and the clinic.

Our guests share their personal experiences and address subjects such as accessibility in education, audism, and the strengths that deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) audiologists contribute to the profession.   First, educational audiologist Sarah Sparks relates her story, including what she’s witnessed as a Deaf audiologist empowering clients. And, audiologist Stacey Lim of Central Michigan Universi...

If clinicians and families aren’t speaking the same language when treating pediatric swallowing disorders, things can get confusing — and dangerous — says today's guest on the podcast. SLP Laura Brooks discusses her work with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative, or IDDSI. The nonprofit has been developing and implementing resources that standardize measurements for thickene...

In recognition of Tinnitus Awareness Week, audiologist and tinnitus expert Tricia Scaglione discusses the latest tinnitus research, the potential role of OTC hearing aids in tinnitus management, and what happens when patients with tinnitus read inaccurate information online. Plus, we explore why some people with tinnitus are turning to mindfulness apps and cognitive behavioral therapy.

These conversation were originally published in August 2022. First, hear from two SLPs in Chicago. This mentor-mentee duo shares lessons and stories from the more than 35 years they’ve known each other. In the second half of the episode, we hear from two bilingual SLPs. The way they met would have been impossible just a few years ago. Hear what resulted from this international mentorship.