Episodes

  • Thickened Liquids...It’s Complicated

    Thickened Liquids...It’s Complicated
    Mar 24 2026
    Thickened liquids are one of the most common recommendations in dysphagia management—but are they always the safest option? In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva review The Adverse Effects and Events of Thickened Liquid Use in Adults: A Systematic Review and dig into the real evidence behind thickened liquids. We talk aspiration risk, dehydration, pneumonia, quality of life, and why dysphagia management is rarely as simple as “just thicken it.” From the proxy problem in aspiration research to free water protocols and real-world SNF decision-making, this conversation explores why thickened liquids can help some patients, harm others, and almost always require careful clinical judgment. Because when it comes to dysphagia management… thickened liquids are complicated. Citations Abrams, S. W., Gandhi, P., & Namasivayam-MacDonald, A. M. (2023). The adverse effects and events of thickened liquid use in adults: A systematic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00380 Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • The Difficult Dance: The SLP’s Role in Huntington’s Disease

    The Difficult Dance: The SLP’s Role in Huntington’s Disease
    Mar 10 2026
    What does evidence-based practice look like when the disease is progressive, fatal, and relentlessly complex? This week on Speech Talk, Emily and Eva discuss clinical management of Huntington’s disease in long-term and residential care settings. Using a comprehensive 2007 primer for speech-language pathologists, we explore dysphagia progression, dysarthria, AAC challenges, behavioral supports, staff training, and the importance of early education. We also reflect on real-world clinical decision making with a late-stage patient — including thickened liquids, unintelligible speech, low-tech and high tech AAC, impulsivity, weight loss, and the emotional weight of progressive decline. Because sometimes evidence-based practice isn’t about fixing — it’s about guiding, adapting, and supporting with intention. Note to our listeners: Your headphones are not broken, the audio on this episode is a little funky (all Emily's fault). It is still worth a listen and we promise it won't happen again :) Citations Klasner, E. R., & Yorkston, K. M. (2007). A primer for speech-language pathologists managing clients with Huntington’s disease in a residential care facility. Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders, 17(2), 59–64. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4958906/ George Huntington (1872). On chorea. The Medical and Surgical Reporter. Huntington’s Disease Society of America. History of Huntington’s Disease. https://hdsa.org/what-is-hd/history-and-genetics-of-huntingtons-disease/history-of-huntingtons-disease/ BBC News. (2024). Experimental gene therapy slows progression of Huntington’s disease. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevz13xkxpro Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    Not Yet Known
  • Bone Spurs & Bolus Flow: Cervical Osteophytes and Dysphagia

    Bone Spurs & Bolus Flow: Cervical Osteophytes and Dysphagia
    Feb 24 2026
    In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva dive into cervical osteophytes (aka bone spurs in the neck) and how they can mechanically impact swallowing. We break down what osteophytes are, why they form, and how they can present just like “typical” dysphagia — globus, coughing, choking, wet vocal quality — but may gradually worsen over time. We talk about imaging (Because how else would we even know it’s there!?), conservative management strategies like texture modification and suprasubglottic swallow, and when a surgical consult might be appropriate. Citations Bakshi, S. S., & Ramesh, S. (2021). Cervical osteophytes causing dysphagia: A case report. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 361(5), e43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjms.2020.10.014 Lyrtzis, C., Poutoglidis, A., Stamati, A., Lazaridis, N., & Paraskevas, G. (2024). A case of dysphagia due to large osteophytic lesions in the cervical spine: A conservative approach. Cureus, 16(4), e59011. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59011 Egerter, A. C., Kim, E. S., Lee, D. J., Liu, J. J., Cadena, G., Panchal, R. R., & Kim, K. D. (2015). Dysphagia secondary to anterior osteophytes of the cervical spine: A retrospective case series and literature review. Global Spine Journal, 5(5), e78–e83. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1546954 Park, B. J., Gold, C. J., Piscopo, A., Schwickerath, L., Bathla, G., Chieng, L.-O., Yamaguchi, S., & Hitchon, P. W. (2021). Outcomes and complications of surgical treatment of anterior osteophytes causing dysphagia: A single center experience. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 207, 106814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106814 Melbourne Swallow Analysis Centre. (n.d.). Cervical osteophytes and dysphagia. Retrieved February 13, 2026, from https://www.melbswallow.com.au/resources/cervical-osteophytes-and-dysphagia/ HealthCentral. (n.d.). Osteophytes (bone spurs). Retrieved February 13, 2026, from https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/spondylosis/osteophytes-bone-spurs Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    Not Yet Known
  • Setting the Stage for Dementia Care

    Setting the Stage for Dementia Care
    Feb 10 2026
    How do we decide what to treat—and how—as dementia progresses? In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva break down the article Staging and Treatment Frameworks for Dementia Management by Mason-Baughman, Raupp, and Corman. We review how dementia is staged clinically, how those stages show up in communication and daily function, and what evidence-based treatment actually looks like across early, middle, and late stages. We walk through practical interventions for each stage—from compensatory strategies and functional maintenance in early dementia, to environmental supports and caregiver collaboration in moderate stages, to sensory-based and Montessori-informed approaches in late-stage dementia. We also discuss testing frameworks, documentation strategies, and how staging can guide ethical, realistic goal setting in long-term care. If you work with patients with dementia (especially in LTC or SNFs), this episode offers a clear, stage-based roadmap for treatment that supports dignity, function, and quality of life. Citations:Mason-Baughman, M. B., Raupp, S., & Corman, K. (2016). Staging and treatment frameworks for dementia management. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1(SIG 15), 53–62. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/persp1.SIG15.53 Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Getting Ahead of Dysphagia: Prehab in Head & Neck Cancer

    Getting Ahead of Dysphagia: Prehab in Head & Neck Cancer
    Jan 27 2026
    Up to 80% of patients treated for oropharyngeal head and neck cancer experience swallowing dysfunction—but what if we intervened before impairment starts? In this episode of Speech Talk, Eva and Emily break down the evidence behind prehabilitation for head and neck cancer, drawing from the literature review by Loewen et al. We unpack what prehab actually is, how swallowing therapy before and during treatment can preserve function, and why prevention is becoming central to dysphagia care. We cover evidence-based swallowing exercises, dosing considerations, nutrition and psychosocial support, patient education, and real-world clinical takeaways—including why timing matters more than you think. If you work with HNC patients (or want to), this episode will shift how you think about dysphagia intervention timelines. Citations: Loewen, I., et al. (2020). Prehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients: A systematic review. Current Oncology, 27(4), e382–e395. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7789666/ Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • A Very Geri Problem: Traumatic Brain Injury in Aging

    A Very Geri Problem: Traumatic Brain Injury in Aging
    Jan 13 2026
    Traumatic brain injury isn’t just a young‑guy‑playing‑sports problem. This week on Speech Talk, we’re diving into TBI in older adults—a population with the highest rates of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality related to brain injury. Using the ASHA review Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults: Epidemiology, Etiology, Rehabilitation, and Outcomes, we break down why TBIs are so common (and so often missed) in geriatrics, especially in SNFs and hospital settings. From falls and car accidents without a concussion diagnosis, to chronic health conditions and polypharmacy, this episode connects the dots between normal aging and TBI‑related cognitive‑communication changes. We talk through what TBIs actually look like in older adults, how to tell aging apart from injury, what assessments clinicians are really using in rehab, and how functional, fall‑focused, real‑world therapy can make a difference. If you’ve ever felt underprepared when a “no concussion noted” patient suddenly isn’t making sense—this one’s for you. You’ll learn: Why older adults have the highest risk and worst outcomes related to TBI The most common causes of TBI in geriatrics—and why falls dominate the picture How TBI presentations differ from typical age‑related cognitive changes Key cognitive‑communication, executive function, and neurobehavioral red flags Chronic health factors that increase TBI risk and complicate recovery Common assessments used with older adults after TBI (SLUMS, MoCA, SCATBI) Practical, functional treatment strategies that translate to real life Why fall education and environmental awareness matter so much in SNFs Citations:Most of today’s data comes from a 2022 ASHA review synthesizing multiple large epidemiologic studies on traumatic brain injury in older adults. Mattingly, E., & Roth, C. R. (2022). Traumatic brain injury in older adults: Epidemiology, etiology, rehabilitation, and outcomes. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 7(3), 648–662. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_PERSP-21-00129 Albrecht, J. S., McCunn, M., Stein, D. M., Simoni-Wastila, L., & Smith, G. S. (2016). Sex differences in mortality following isolated traumatic brain injury among older adults. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 81(3), 486–492. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000001104 Taylor, C. A., Bell, J. M., Breiding, M. J., & Xu, L. (2017). Traumatic brain injury–related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths—United States, 2007 and 2013. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(9), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6609a1 Fu, W. W., Fu, T. S., Jing, R., McFaull, S. R., & Cusimano, M. D. (2017). Predictors of falls and mortality among elderly adults with traumatic brain injury: A nationwide, population-based study. PLOS ONE, 12(4), e0175868. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175868 Bhullar, I. S., Roberts, E. E., Brown, L., & Lipe, H. (2010). The effect of age on blunt traumatic brain-injured patients. The American Surgeon, 76(9), 966–968. . The effect of age on blunt traumatic brain‑injured patients. The American Surgeon, 76(9), 966–968. Get in Touch:📧 hello@speechtalkpod.com🌐 www.SpeechTalkPod.com📸 Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • How 'bout a Quickie: Dysphagia Screeners

    How 'bout a Quickie: Dysphagia Screeners
    Dec 30 2025
    This week on Speech Talk, we’re breaking down two of our favorite fast and evidence-backed dysphagia screeners: the TOMASS and the Yale Swallow Protocol. If you’ve ever been buried in a busy SNF day and wished for a quick but reliable way to check someone’s swallow, this episode is your new best friend. We walk you through how each tool works, what the research says, and why a simple cracker and a cup of water can give you so much clinically relevant information. You’ll hear practical tips for saving time, collaborating with nursing and OT, knowing when NOT to use these screeners, and using the results to support stronger documentation and referrals. Grab a saltine, pull up your badge buddy, and let’s talk about dysphagia screening you can actually use in your practice. You’ll learn: The TOMASS basics: what to measure, how to give it, and why it’s more legit than it looks How the Yale Swallow Protocol really works (and the signs you don’t want to miss) What the research says about accuracy, reliability, and clinical usefulness When these tools are perfect—and when they’re not the right choice How to use quick screens to guide goals, referrals, and Medicare-friendly documentation Ways to bring nursing and OT into the swallow-screening process CitationsTodaro, F., Pizzorni, N., Scarponi, L., Ronzoni, C., Huckabee, M. L., & Schindler, A. (2021). The Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS): Reliability and validity in patients with dysphagia. International journal of language & communication disorders, 56(3), 558–566. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12613 Suiter, D. M., Sloggy, J., & Leder, S. B. (2014). Validation of the Yale Swallow Protocol: a prospective double-blinded videofluoroscopic study. Dysphagia, 29(2), 199–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-013-9488-3 Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: www.SpeechTalkPod.com Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • The Productivi-Tea: Sipping on SNF Reality

    The Productivi-Tea: Sipping on SNF Reality
    Dec 16 2025
    Productivity: the push button topic in the SNF world. If you’ve ever felt torn between what’s ethical and what’s expected, this episode will hit home. Instead of a research article, we dive into Akyko S. West’s dissertation on productivity requirements and moral distress in SNF rehab therapists (SLPs, PTs, OTs, RTs, and their assistants). This paper READS like every conversation we’ve had in break rooms for yearsss. In this episode, we cover: Why productivity expectations in SNFs feel impossible What West discovered about moral distress across 152 rehab clinicians How difficult-to-meet productivity demands impact clinical judgment Why negative consequences—not productivity alone—drive distress The ethics conversations no one wants to have but everyone needs Personal stories from the field (PRN trauma included) Why the “sweet spot” for ethical productivity still doesn’t exist What therapists can realistically do to protect patients and themselves We get real about navigating profit-driven healthcare, maintaining integrity, advocating for yourself, and knowing when to walk away. Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins