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.

ASHA, Other CSD Organizations, Collaborate to Raise Communication Disability at the UN
Miles Forma really doesn’t like when people think he is stupid because he’s unable to talk. “I’ve had many experiences in my life where people assumed because I am a non-speaking person and sit in a wheelchair, I’m not intelligent,” Forma said recently using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The young man wasn’t saying this to just anybody. His audience included people with the power to change things—attendees at a major conference on disability at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York a few weeks ago. Mike Froma addresses the United Nations Forma was a presenter at a session—or “...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - July 12, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Joseph Cerquone Tags: Academia & Research Advocacy Audiology Health Care News Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Language Disorders Professional Development Speech Disorders Source Type: blogs

Strategies for Working With Students Who ’ ve Experienced Trauma
It’s a Monday morning in the New Haven (Connecticut) Public Schools. Every Monday, my speech-language treatment sessions kick off with one of my kindergarten students. Every week with this student is a new adventure. This Monday, he wears his typical soiled clothes and clings to the arms of the paraeducator bringing him to the session. He is not crying. He is not mad. He is clearly preoccupied, resulting in his usual withdrawn demeanor. He clings harder to the helper as I approach, places his head down and falls asleep within seconds as if he didn’t sleep the night before. We finally make it to my office but not withou...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - July 10, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Cayla White Tags: Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Language Disorders social skills Speech Disorders Source Type: blogs

In Appreciation: Katharine G. Butler
Katharine Gorell Butler, 1978 and 1996 ASHA president, died on June 17, 2019, at age 94, in Monterey, California. The world became a less dynamic and interesting place on June 17. One of the most influential, respected, and loved people in our field passed away in Monterey, California, leaving behind a legacy that will endure through her ever-present spirit and through all of us who were fortunate enough to bask in her light for a brief time. Katharine G. Butler, known simply as Kay, will be sorely missed. For many of us in the speech and language world, Kay was nurturer-in-chief who provided the push we needed to leave he...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - July 8, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Geraldine Wallaxch Tags: News Slider Language Disorders Speech Disorders speech-language pathology Source Type: blogs

‘Toy Story 4’ Features a Child With a Cochlear Implant
Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” which debuted in theaters worldwide June 20, introduces a new character—a child with a green cochlear implant (CI). Two aspects of this child are notable: He is part of a mainstream classroom and is smiling. Inclusivity and happiness are often missing in media portrayals of people with hearing loss, and this positive portrayal has sparked a hubbub of celebration online from audiologists, parents, and people in the deaf and hard of hearing community alike: Belinda Barnet, mother of a 6-year-old CI user, shares her daughter’s reaction to seeing a child with a CI on the big screen: Jay Ruderm...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - July 3, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Regina Escano Zappi Tags: Audiology News Slider Uncategorized Advocacy Hearing Assistive Technology hearing loss Source Type: blogs

When Viral Videos Fuel Parent Expectations
I’ll never forget the session. She said, “Look at this,” as she pulled out her phone and opened her Facebook app. My client’s mom reached over her toddler to show me a video. “Look at this man,” she said as the video began to play. “He has Down syndrome, too. Look at how he’s talking.” On plays a viral video of a gentleman with Down syndrome speaking before Congress. We watched it briefly in the middle of our speech session, with her little one seated between us. She looked at her child then up at me, her eyes filled with both hope and despair. She put her hand on her kid’s back and asked, “Will my ch...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - July 1, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Danielle Newcombe Tags: Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Advocacy Autism Spectrum Disorder social skills Source Type: blogs

Noisy Restaurants Are More Than Annoying —They ’ re Discriminatory
Loud is in when it comes to eating out. The trend of loud restaurants began with design—modern spaces filled with hard surfaces and featuring high ceilings—making voices bounce around the space. Some restaurants purposely amp up the noise level by playing loud music, forcing diners to shout above it. More recently, diners and even food critics are rebelling against the trend by pointing out annoying noise levels in reviews and ratings. A recent article in The Washington Post goes even further by detailing how noisy restaurants discriminate against patrons with hearing loss. People with “hidden” hearing loss can ac...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 28, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: Audiology News Slider hearing loss hearing protection Source Type: blogs

Planning for Parental Leave as a Private Practice Owner
For many private practice owners, their clinic is their baby. My business partner—audiologist Melissa Wilson Beer—and I constantly joke about our clinic being our first child with all the highs (and lows) that come with raising a little one! The dedication and attention given to the business helps it improve and grow. This time and attention can also become a challenge when a real baby comes along. As women business owners, we navigate the world of business while carving out time to learn the world of parenting. As I prepare to welcome my first little one into the world—in just a few weeks—I spent time researching...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 26, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Jody Vaynshtok Tags: Audiology Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Practice Management Source Type: blogs

5 Tips to Create Positive Food Memories for Pediatric Feeding Groups
Think about a favorite food memory. Do you remember only the taste of the food or does the entire scene—the smell of the dishes served, the sounds of the bustling restaurant or conversation of the friends’ home, the sight of the table setting and plating of the food—spring to mind? Food can trigger memories and emotions in a way other experiences can’t. How do these multi-faceted sensory memories created by good—or bad—food experiences affect our pediatric population when it comes to feeding? Using this question as my guide, I tried to find ways to create positive memories between food and sensory play for my ...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 25, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Cindy Herde Tags: Health Care Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Early Intervention Feeding Disorders Swallowing Disorders Source Type: blogs

Why Join Special Interest Group 16, School-Based Issues?
ASHA members who work in the schools face a range of challenges. Here’s how joining SIG 16 can help you get the most out of your chosen career. What would you say to encourage other colleagues to join SIG 16? School-based SLPs sometimes feel like no one really understands what they do. Some work in smaller districts, where they are the only SLP on staff. This SIG provides a community that understands what we do, shares information, provides support and ideas, and celebrates the successes others achieve. SIG 16 is a wonderful way to understand our profession from many different points of view. The members are always re...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 19, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley Lloyd Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: blogs

Yes to PhD, No to Life Upheaval: The Final Chapter
I’ve learned I tend to bury the “lede” when I write, so I will lead with this: I’m done. I make my kids call me Dr. Mom and I return to sender all cards not addressed to Dr. Stauder. I’m so happy. I shared the process of figuring out how I could get my PhD without blowing up my life, then again on how I balanced being in school with that life, and now I can reflect on lessons learned. During the five years I was on the PhD train, I learned many things. I hope sharing them might help you. The first thing I learned was the title of this three-part series is actually ridiculous. While I was fortunate to fin...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 17, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Erin Stauder Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Slider Speech-Language Pathology Professional Development Source Type: blogs

10 Conversation Strategies Highlighted in the Father-Son Viral Video
The viral video of a conversation between a father and his young child that has delighted viewers highlights 10 key conversation strategies speech-language pathologists routinely share with families. The interaction in the video demonstrates key skills needed for speech, language, and communication development. SLPs offer these 10 tips to help parents enhance conversational interactions with their children: Take turns when talking. Start conversations with children from birth. Pause after you finish talking to signal it’s the child’s turn to communicate. This gives your child a chance to respond and initiate conversa...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 14, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Diane Paul Tags: Audiology Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Early Intervention Source Type: blogs

5 Strategies to Help Families Act as Speech and Language Coaches
As school ends for summer and families plan summer vacations, speech-language pathologists plan activities for caregivers and families to work on with their child, sibling, niece, or cousin. Coaching families can boost a child’s progress over summer break or help them maintain key communication skills. Coaching by caregivers and siblings can happen anywhere, with any age child, no matter the type of communication disorder. Teaching family members—whether it’s parents, step-parents, grandparents, siblings, or cousins—your strategies or “tricks” empowers them and can result in better long-term outcomes for yo...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 12, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Susannah Silvia Tags: Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Uncategorized Early Intervention Language Disorders Source Type: blogs

Why We Went To Capitol Hill, and Why We ’ll Go Back
As members of the Coordinating Committee for ASHA Special Interest Group 7, Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation, we—Deb Culbertson, Beth Humphrey, Jani Johnson, Nicole Marrone, and Jessica Sullivan—recently spent a day on Capitol Hill. As a group, we visited our various representatives to advocate for the professions—with guidance from ASHA’s legislative team—the day before our annual business meeting at the National Office. After our visit, we debriefed about the experiences so other audiologists and speech-language pathologists considering advocating for our professions on the Hill might gain some insi...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 10, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Deb Culbertson Tags: Academia & Research Advocacy Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider Hearing Assistive Technology hearing loss hearing protection Source Type: blogs

An Act of Compassion Quells an Autism Meltdown —and Stuns a Mom
Ralph Koppelman, age 9, was itching to ride the Spider-Man attraction. Finally, as his family wrapped up their day at the Universal Orlando Resort last week, the time came. Spider-Man would be the last ride, and Ralph was bursting to get on it. Then came the announcement: The ride closed because of technical problems. As described in a Washington Post article, Ralph, who has autism, launched into a full-on meltdown—sobbing, screaming, and hyperventilating. What happened next came as huge surprise to Ralph’s mother, Lenore Koppelman. Ride attendant Jennifer Welchel dashed over and lay down next to Ralph on the ground, t...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 7, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Bridget Murray Law Tags: News Speech-Language Pathology autism Autism Spectrum Disorder meltdowns Source Type: blogs

Make Summer a Season of Safe Listening
School’s out for summer and kids of all ages will spend even more time listening to personal audio devices. That could mean an unsafe season lies ahead for their hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss is recognized as a global public health threat, so what better time than now for ASHA members to take the lead in spreading awareness about safe listening habits? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion young people are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss. Potentially damaging listening habits—too loud, too long, too often—remain a leading culprit for this risk. WHO’s concern led to...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - June 5, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Joseph Cerquone Tags: Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider hearing loss hearing protection Source Type: blogs