Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs

Speech Therapy PD
Speech Therapy PD

Join Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, and a variety of guests for this innovative podcast combining evidence-based practice with functional tasks for patients with various communication and cognitive-linguistic disorders. This is a Speech Therapy PD podcast, earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for each episode by completing the accompany course on www.speechtherapypd.com

  1. Aug 6

    Health-Literate Communication for SLPs with Richard Zraick

    Health-literate communication is essential to effective speech-language pathology practice. Guest: Richard Zraick, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, Richard Zraick, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE, joins host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, to discuss practical, evidence-informed strategies for making clinical communication clearer, more accessible, and more actionable. Together, they examine common barriers to patient understanding and share practical ways to organize information, reduce cognitive load, use plain language without sacrificing clinical accuracy, incorporate teach-back into everyday practice, and create patient education that better supports individuals with communication disorders, cognitive impairments, and varying literacy levels. About the Guest: Richard Zraick, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE, is Professor and formerly the Founding Director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida. He is a Fellow of the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association. He is also a Certified Health Simulation Educator. He completed his Psychology B.A. (’84) and Speech and Hearing Science M.A. (’87) at the University of Arizona, followed by a Ph.D. from Arizona State University (’98). Show Notes: Examining Patient-Provider Language and Interactions in Healthcare (EXPLAIN) Lab

    Health-Literate Communication for SLPs with Richard Zraick

  2. Jul 23

    Intent, Intensity, and Neuroplasticity with Laura Langer

    Why Do Intent, Intensity, and Neuroplasticity Matter? Guest: Laura Langer, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Laura Langer, MS, CCC-SLP, to examine the evidence behind the SPEAK OUT! program and why intentional speech production plays such an important role in treating individuals with Parkinson's disease. Together, they discuss the research supporting SPEAK OUT!, the principles of motor learning and neuroplasticity that guide the program, and how repetition, intensity, and salience work together to create meaningful improvements in communication. About the Guest: Laura Langer, M.S., CCC-SLP, serves as the Chief Clinical & Research Officer at Parkinson Voice Project, where she is committed to advancing evidence-based care for individuals with Parkinson's disease. She has an extensive background in medical speech-language pathology and clinical education, with a strong focus on neurologic communication and swallowing disorders.

    Intent, Intensity, and Neuroplasticity with Laura Langer

  3. Jul 9

    A Conversation About Late-Onset Hearing Loss with Valerie James Abbott

    Guest: Valerie James Abbott Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, welcomes Valerie James Abbott, parent-advocate and national leader in hearing health awareness, for an important discussion about late-onset hearing loss. Because many children with late-onset hearing loss pass their newborn hearing screening, later-developing hearing changes can be easily missed. Valerie shares both her personal experience as the parent of a child with late-onset hearing loss and her work advocating for improved hearing screening, family support, and better outcomes for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. About the Guest: Valerie James Abbott is the parent of a child with late-onset hearing loss. As a parent-advocate and leader, she worked for the Center for Family Involvement at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University, supporting families of children recently diagnosed with hearing loss. She served as the first parent ever elected chair of the Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program Advisory Committee, and she led the nonprofit Hands & Voices' return to Virginia. Follow Valerie IG: valerie.james.abbott

    A Conversation About Late-Onset Hearing Loss with Valerie James Abbott

  4. Jul 2

    An SLP's Personal Experience with Brain Injury with Laura Morgan

    What happens when the clinician suddenly becomes the patient? Guest: Laura Morgan, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIST Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Rehab for SLPs, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Laura Morgan, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIST, for a deeply personal conversation about Laura’s experience navigating life after brain injury while also carrying the insight and perspective of a rehabilitation professional. About the Guest: In 2012, after Laura Morgan earned her master’s in Speech-language Pathology, she started her clinical fellowship in Frederick, Maryland. Halfway through the fellowship, Laura was a buckled passenger in a serious motor vehicle accident. She sustained a moderate-to-severe brain injury in the accident, but as a result of the long rehab process, she gained a unique perspective on head injury in the field of Speech Pathology. Laura Morgan IG: 📍 SLP_TBI Show Notes: Contact Laura Morgan IG: 📍 SLP_TBI

    An SLP's Personal Experience with Brain Injury with Laura Morgan

  5. Jun 18

    Adaptive Fitness and Neuro Recovery with Sarah Tucker

    Guest: Sarah Tucker, PT, NCS, AIT, BRM Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube This episode of Brainstorms: Functional Rehab for SLPs features Sarah Tucker, PT, NCS, AIT, BRM, discussing the vital role adaptive fitness can play in long-term neuro recovery after formal rehabilitation ends. For individuals living with stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and other neurological conditions, recovery is often a lifelong process. This conversation explores how adaptive fitness programs can help rebuild strength, confidence, identity, and connection while supporting meaningful participation in everyday life. Renee and Sarah highlight the growing intersection between rehabilitation and inclusive fitness, emphasizing how movement impacts not only physical function, but also cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. About the Guest: Sarah Tucker, MPT, is a physical therapist with over 17 years of experience in inpatient rehabilitation and 8 years in outpatient neurological therapy. She earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, in 2002 and has spent her entire clinical career in Newport News, Virginia. Sarah Tucker IG: Uncharted_Adaptive_Fitness

    Adaptive Fitness and Neuro Recovery with Sarah Tucker

  6. Jun 4

    Botox’s Hidden Impact on Speech & Swallowing with Megan McCue

    Botulinum toxin is widely used to correct fine lines and wrinkles, but what happens when its effects extend beyond the intended target? Guest: Megan McCue, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Rehab for SLPs, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Megan McCue, MS, CCC-SLP, to take a closer look at the mechanism of action behind Botox and how localized chemodenervation can, in some cases, lead to broader, systemic consequences. About the Guest: Megan McCue, MS, CCC-SLP, is a California-based home health speech-language pathologist and the author of Iatrogenic Botulism 101: A Guide for Doctors, Nurses, and Other Healthcare Providers. She is passionate about working with adults with neurodegenerative diseases and raising awareness among clinicians about the often-overlooked adverse effects of botulinum toxin injections. Show Notes: www.iatrogenicbotulism.com Book - Iatrogenic Botulism 101: A Guide for Doctors, Nurses, and Other Healthcare Providers

    Botox’s Hidden Impact on Speech & Swallowing with Megan McCue

  7. May 28

    Hypervigilance, Sensory Processing & the Gut with Camille Thélin and Jaimie Anderson

    Why is understanding the brain-gut connection important for SLPs? Guest: Dr. Camille Thélin, MD, MSc, and Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Emerging evidence continues to highlight the complex, bidirectional relationship between the brain and the gastrointestinal system, with important implications for speech-language pathology practice. In this episode of Brainstorms, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Dr. Camille Thélin, MD, MSc, and Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, to explore disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) through the lens of hypervigilance and sensory processing. About the Guests: Jaimie Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is a medical speech-language pathologist (SLP) board-certified by the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (BC-ANCDS). She currently evaluates and treats complex, multiphase swallowing, voice, upper airway, and motor speech disorders as part of a multidisciplinary team at the University of South Florida Joy McCann Culverhouse Center for Swallowing Disorders in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Camille Thélin, MD, MSc, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of South Florida (USF), where she has served on the faculty since 2019. She is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the USF Neurogastroenterology & Motility Center, launched in 2024 to expand coordinated, multidisciplinary care for complex lower GI motility disorders. As part of this effort, she also helped establish USF’s in-house anorectal manometry program to improve access and continuity of care across the region. Show Notes: 3rd Annual Swallowing Symposium in honor of Dysphagia Awareness Month (June 2026)

    Hypervigilance, Sensory Processing & the Gut with Camille Thélin and Jaimie Anderson

  8. May 21

    From App to Action: Digital Tools for Neurorehab with Zach Smith

    What happens between therapy sessions often determines whether progress carries over or fades. Guest: Zach Smith, MS, CCC-SLP Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs, Zach Smith, MS, CCC-SLP, and Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, take a closer look at how app-enabled neurorehabilitation is reshaping the way clinicians support patients beyond the therapy room. As digital tools become more integrated into care, they are helping shift intervention from episodic sessions to more continuous, real-world practice. About the Guest: Zachary “Zach” Smith, MS, CCC-SLP, received training from both Boston University and the MGH Institute of Health Professions, and has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for the past decade. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of neurologically based communication and swallowing disorders and has experience across the medical continuity of care. Show Notes: Constant Therapy Mentioned in this episode: Register for the Aphasia Discourse Conference on June 7

    From App to Action: Digital Tools for Neurorehab with Zach Smith
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Join Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, and a variety of guests for this innovative podcast combining evidence-based practice with functional tasks for patients with various communication and cognitive-linguistic disorders. This is a Speech Therapy PD podcast, earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for each episode by completing the accompany course on www.speechtherapypd.com

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