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Eat, Speak, & Think

I've been a medical speech-language pathologist since 2008, and I'm passionate about sharing useful tips and resources to help people living with swallowing, communication, or cognitive challenges.

Person marking a checkbox on a paper survey with green, yellow, and red smiley faces indicating different responses. Text on the right side reads: '35+ free cognitive tests, screeners, and questionnaires.'
Featured Post

🧠 EST Updates: 35+ free cognitive tools you can use today

Hi Reader,I emailed out EST's updated Resource Binder to all current supporters on Buy Me A Coffee on July 1. It now stands at 326 pages! If you can't find the email, just reply and let me know. The Mini Resource Binder was also updated and is now 84 pages. This is a reward for people who offer a one-time tip on Buy Me A Coffee. As always, thank you for your support! It's a large reason why I keep going with this project after 7 years!⭐️ Under "Diverse Voices," you'll find Black American Sign...

Hi Reader,After realizing that my executive function training is not ADHD-friendly, I've been taking a deep dive into adult ADHD. In my first post, I hope to raise awareness about key points that we should know. I'm planning on writing a follow-up article on what ADHD-friendly executive function training looks like. If you know of any good resources, please let me know! I know I usually talk about Medbridge, but I also really like SpeechPathology.com. If you sign up for a new subscription by...

Hi Reader,I've fielded a lot of questions lately about how to do AAC evaluations, so I thought I would share my tutorial. I'm also sharing a foundation that offers grants for free AAC equipment and more. On a personal note, I had a great vacation in my hometown. I met up with a friend, I borrowed a clarinet to practice for a July concert, and my sister sent me home with lots of gardening tips and ideas. It was great to spend time with my family. I hope you have a relaxing vacation planned!...

Hi Reader,My new post is inspired by a TEDMED talk about how improv strategies can reduce frustration and improve connection with people who have Alzheimer's dementia. (Free download is a patient handout.) Since then, I've heard from an SLP who performs and teaches improv, who said the strategies help her in her clinical practice. Another SLP said their student tried improv with young adults with autism, and it seemed to work well. I should look for local improv classes! As you read this, I...

Hi Reader,I have to avoid certain foods due to sensitivities (such as dairy, corn, and honey), plus I'm pescatarian, which makes banquets tricky for me. I went to a high school sports banquet last month that didn't serve anything I could eat. Thankfully, the kitchen staff prepared a meal for me. I remember sitting at a large round table waiting for my meal while everyone else ate. I felt very awkward, sitting at an empty spot as everyone else dug into plates piled high with a variety of...

Hi Reader,I hope this email finds you and yours doing well! If you or someone you know is having trouble managing their energy to get through the day, you might find the Spoon Theory helpful. I'm sharing that EST post and free guide below. I published the 3rd audio newsletter which covers both of my April newsletters. I publish this on Spoken.Press, which is in free beta. If you like the audio newsletter and want it to continue, please let me know! If you like the idea of an audio newsletter...

Letter tiles scattered on a desk

Hi Reader,My new post is a tutorial on how to assess single word auditory comprehension. It includes links to open access assessment tools. The new post was inspired by a fabulous webinar all about assessing and treating auditory comprehension at the word, sentence, and discourse levels. I highly recommend you listen to it! (link in the blog article) ⭐️ The new download is a 3-page clinician cheat sheet with all the key details.🛒 Under "Diverse Voices," you'll find an interview with the...

letter tiles spell out the phrase 'don't be late' next to an old-fashioned alarm clock

Hi Reader,My new blog article is all about memory--what to do when it fails and how to make it better. The download is a 3-page patient handout. I tried to make it easy to read and understand. Let me know if you see how I could improve it! I adapted this email into an audio newsletter. It's 5 minutes long, and I share more details than you'll find here. I'd love for you to listen and let me know what you think! 📝 Under "Diverse Voices," you'll find a great tip for helping people with low...

Hi Reader,I love audio. I listen to podcasts, videos, and audio books all day long. I've been wanting to use audio for my blog, but it always seemed pretty daunting. I recently discovered a new platform for creating and sharing audio, Spoken.press. It's in beta now, so it's free to creators and listeners for a few more months. I created an audio version of my last newsletter. Please listen and let me know what you think! It's not exactly the same as my email newsletter. For example, I go into...

Hi Reader,Megan (SLP) experienced life-altering side effects from a round of cosmetic botulinum toxin injections, and she took a deep dive into the research and history to write a book. We're hoping to help raise awareness with my new blog post. We all make their own choices about our medical or cosmetic care, but we may not take time to read the small print on consents when we're about to get a procedure. But beyond this, SLPs have a special role because many of the possible side effects...