Tackle Problematic Tech Habits This Spring-Cleaning Season
Is your tech use “sparking joy”?
Spring is here, but perhaps you already got a jump on your spring-cleaning ritual in January, as Marie Kondo fever took over our collective screens and homes. (Marie Kondo is an international tidying expert with her own show on Netflix who helps clients de-clutter their homes and find joy.) If so, why not use this time to consider some tech-use makeovers you can share with your clients and their families—with a focus on what actually sparks joy.
Promoting Healthy Communication in a Tech-Driven World
Use Spring Awareness Days as Outreach Opportunities
Portable Music Players Lin...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 20, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Francine Pierson Tags: Audiology Events Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology screen time Technology Source Type: blogs
Helping Cambodia Hear
Chyrisse Heine knows Cambodia’s rural provinces well. She travels there regularly—and has for years—in her work for Cambodia Vision, which provides health care to Cambodian residents. In oppressive humidity and with limited resources, Heine works with a group of volunteers to provide hearing care and treatment for the organization. Last year, her team helped more than 700 people—46 of whom experienced the ability to hear for the first time.
An associate professor at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, Heine is an audiologist and speech-language pathologist. In addition to teaching and leading her annual vo...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 19, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: blogs
Spotlight on Special Interest Group 8, Audiology and Public Health
Looking for a group that explores the relationship between audiological services and public health issues? Let Amy Boudin-George explain why this SIG is for you.
When did you join your SIG—and what made you want to join?
I joined after I began working in the Department of Defense (DoD), where hearing loss and prevention are seen as being in the public health domain, in addition to being a medical issue. SIG 8 hits that exact mark and goes beyond, showing how hearing loss and tinnitus are public health issues on a global scale.
How has your involvement with the SIG helped you in your career?
...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 15, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Amy Boudin-George Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider audiologist educational audiologist Hearing Aids Hearing Assistive Technology hearing loss hearing protection public health Source Type: blogs
How to Choose the Best EHR for Your Private Practice
The day has finally arrived. You realize you need electronic health records (EHR) technology for your private practice but aren’t sure how to find the right system. How can audiologists and speech-language pathologists determine which EHR software best fits their practice?
Before you can choose EHR software, learn what features and benefits each system offers. In general, EHRs provide a HIPAA-compliant, web-based location to store documents, take care of billing and communicate with patients. They track billing information—including claims, explanation of benefits forms (EOBs) and electronic remittance advice f...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 13, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Jill Shook Tags: Audiology Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology patient communication patient-centered care Technology Source Type: blogs
How to Approach Difficult Conversations With Patients and Family Members
Recently, after what was to be a “routine” speech-language evaluation for a 3-year-old, I had no choice but to bring the word “autism” into the conversation with the parents. The toddler’s pediatrician had never raised concerns, even though the child said just a few words, avoided eye contact, demonstrated clear echolalia, and repeatedly throughout the day hit his head and threw his body against walls, along with other stimming behaviors.
Concerned about their child’s obvious delays compared to his peers, the parents sought a speech-language evaluation on their own. So while these parents knew something...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 11, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Jody Vaynshtok Tags: Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: blogs
Free Hearing Test App Launched for World Hearing Day
The World Health organization (WHO) is offering a free app that allows users to check their hearing with a mobile device. Launched to coincide with World Hearing Day, the app—called “hearWHO”— is available for free on Apple and Google Play.
The app aims to help more people detect hearing loss earlier and obtain effective treatment, which can potentially prevent further damage and preserve existing hearing. By making it easy to check hearing regularly, the app also aims to make users aware of high-risk listening habits, such as loud headphone volume or frequenting noisy places without wearing ear protection. WHO...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 8, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: Audiology Health Care News Private Practice Schools Slider Hearing Assistive Technology hearing loss Source Type: blogs
Champion the 21-Day Challenge to Read Aloud
We all know the tremendous importance of daily reading with a child. This practice promotes speech/language development, along with numerous other benefits—building vocabulary, providing consistent opportunities for bonding with parents and caregivers, promoting empathy and compassion, and establishing a life-long love of books, reading, and learning—among them.
That’s why this March, ASHA is teaming up with the organization Read Aloud 15 MINUTES to promote the 21-Day Read Aloud-ASHA Challenge.
The challenge hopes to help parents and caregivers form a habit of reading aloud once they commit to the challenge of readin...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 6, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Diane Paul Tags: News Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology literacy reading Source Type: blogs
Ways to Grow Your Private Practice Client Base
Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series. Look for part one, “Finding the Right Market for Your Private Practice.”
Private practice is a consistently growing area for communication sciences and disorders (CSD) professionals. Whether making the transition from employee to employer, or trying to expand an established business, private practitioners want to grow their client base.
If you’re looking for places to reach potential clients, try some of these approaches to marketing, collaboration and outreach.
Get on social media
Use social media—such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter—to share news and inf...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 4, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Yvette McCoy Tags: Audiology Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology business management Source Type: blogs
Hearing Loss and the Increased Risk of Falls
One of our roles as audiologists is
to help our patients better connect and communicate with the world around them.
We care deeply about our patients and treating their auditory system so they
can lead better lives. Our responsibility includes educating patients about the
benefits of treatment, as well as the risks of leaving them untreated.
For the elderly in particular, one
such risk involves the increased chance of falls due to hearing loss.
Facts
on falling
People 65 or older commonly fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one out of four older adults falls each yea...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - March 1, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Zhanneta Shapiro Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider audiologist balance Hearing Aids hearing loss Source Type: blogs
Looking Back, Looking Ahead to Transition from Clinic to Academia
There are four infamous words that parents, including me, say to children: “Back in my day … (fill in the blank).” What follows this phrase is usually something like, “I used to walk to school uphill, both ways, barefoot, in the snow.” No matter the context, “Back in my day” serves as a bridge linking the past to the present.
In the summer of 2018—just a little more than 16 years since I had received my undergraduate degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore—I started a new job as a clinical assistant professor several miles north of my alma mater at Towson University. Prior to this appointme...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 27, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: David Alexander Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology educational audiologist Source Type: blogs
Super Bowl Stuttering Slight Should Not Go Unnoticed
Super Bowl LIII opened with four and a half minutes of Peyton Manning plugging his creative genius—a scene featuring gladiators—to a room of executives who seem doubtful of his brilliant idea. He proceeds to tell them he’s already rented the Colosseum for the actual shoot. Then John Malkovich, standing in the middle of the Colosseum, enters via video call and begins talking about what a trite concept Manning is proposing.
Before Malkovich begins his rant, however, one of the executives exclaims in disbelief that John Malkovich is actually at the Roman Colosseum, Peyton Manning states condescendingly, “Of course ...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 25, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Ana Paula Mumy Tags: Academia & Research Advocacy Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Fluency Disorders Speech Disorders stuttering Source Type: blogs
Overheard: Using Respiratory Muscle Strength Training in Dysphagia
The objective data comes from what you measure as an outcome. The device is the trainer. Again, use pressure threshold and then set out to measure the outcomes, a scale, a swallow exam, a cough flow rate, a voice quality, etc.
Participant: How do you establish goals? There are norms for peak cough, is this what you use?
Kiourkas: Respiratory uses cough peak flow to qualify for noninvasive ventilation for ALS and neuromuscular patients. The norms are different for each person. Suggested ranges are used as a guide to assist in determining if the patient is getting worse at subsequent visits. We also use a SNIP (sniffing pres...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 22, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Renee Kiourkas Tags: Academia & Research Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Dysphagia dyspnea muscle strength skilled nursing facility Swallowing Disorders Source Type: blogs
Compassion Fatigue: The Cost of Caring
As audiologists and speech-language pathologists, we truly care about our students, clients and patients. Helping change people’s lives is a primary reason why many pursue a career in communication sciences and disorders. But at what cost? Is there such a thing as caring too much? Yes, it’s possible, and it’s known as compassion fatigue.
A consequence of possessing a strong sense of empathy, combined with repeated or prolonged interaction with people who have experienced trauma, compassion fatigue can have negative physical, emotional and cognitive effects. Those of us in helping professions are at risk for devel...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 20, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Kathryn Samples Williams Tags: Audiology Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology audiologist compassion fatigue mindfulness Source Type: blogs
Big Changes in Life Resulted in One SLP Creating ‘Small Steps in Speech’
February 12 is a day anyone who was privileged to know Marc Small will never forget. On that day in 2009, Marc—then my fiancé—lost his life in Afghanistan serving our nation as an Army Special Forces medical sergeant. Instead of planning our wedding, I launched a nonprofit in his memory called Small Steps in Speech.
I shared the story of launching the organization in a Leader article, which also explains how Marc thought of the name originally for my future private practice.
Jumping forward 10 years…. the legacy of Marc Small has changed the lives of children and their families across the country. Small Steps in Spe...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 19, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Amanda Charney-Berardi Tags: Audiology Health Care Slider Speech-Language Pathology Speech Disorders Source Type: blogs
An Administrator —and Former SLP—Shares His Perspective on the LA Teachers’ Strike
Editor’s note: We are publishing this post after the conclusion of the LA teachers’ strike in order to share insights for members about the continuing wave of strikes, such as the current one in Denver.
As an administrator in the Speech and Language Program in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), I belong to the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the union representing administrators. I’m not a member of the union on strike—United Teachers of Los Angeles—so my role during the strike was to provide instruction and supervisory support to those students who reported to school during th...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 13, 2019 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Kyle Epps Tags: Advocacy Audiology News Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology audiologist educational audiologist Source Type: blogs
