Overcoming Barriers on Families’ Journey From NICU to Home

When a child leaves the NICU, families and caregivers may face what’s called a “services cliff”—a point where it can be confusing or difficult to find needed services without the structure of a health care center.Hear from Sara Circelli and SLP Tiffany Elliott about their work to reshape that transition where they live and work. They share how they address barriers to services through the hospital-to-home care model in Washington state.Learn More:ASHA Voices: Supporting Families of Children With Disorders of ConsciousnessASHA Voices: Preparing Pediatric Audiologists Through LEND ProgramsASHA Voices: Exploring Caregiver-Provider InteractionsTranscriptSupport for this episode of ASHA Voices comes Feeding Matters International Pediatric Feeding Disorder Conference.

Learn where to find the ASHA Leader's most popular stories from 2025, and revisit past episodes of the ASHA Voices podcast, in this short episode.Plus, we invite you to share what subjects you would like to hear discussed on ASHA Voices in 2026.TranscriptASHA Leader Highlights:Articles and Podcasts SLPs Read, Shared, and Listened the Most to in 2025Articles and Podcasts Audiologists Read, Shared, and Listened to the Most in 2025Podcast Proposal Guide2025 Highlights:ASHA Voices: 'This Too Is a Mask': A Neurodivergent SLP Confronts Autism and IdentityASHA Voices: AI Voices Helping AAC Users-On Stage and In LifeASHA Voices: Two Audiologists Take the Mic on Podcasting and Their CareersASHA Voices: Preparing the 'Vocal Athlete' for PerformanceASHA Voices: Changes and Trends in Dysphagia TreatmentASHA Voices: Supporting Families of Children With Disorders of Consciousness

When people acquire a brain injury, it can lead to difficulty with communication, including the language disorder aphasia.Hear SLPs share how they use podcasting as a tool to work with people with aphasia, helping them create, host, and produce their own ongoing shows.A panel of SLPs—including Tom Sather of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Melissa Richman of the Stroke Comeback Center in Virginia, and Bernadine Gagnon of Teachers College, Columbia University—describe the benefits they’ve seen from this approach. They also discuss the origins of the shows with which they’ve worked.Also hear from two additional guests. SLP Melissa Capo discusses project-based interventions. And Tim Carosi, a podcast host who has aphasia, discusses his show "Aphasia to Aphasia."Learn More:ASHA Voices: Benefits of Conversation in the Lives of People With AphasiaASHA Practice Portal: AphasiaUsing Project-Based Learning to Support a Middle Schooler’s Aphasia RecoveryTranscript

Their voices may be familiar to you. Dakota Sharp and Carrie Spangler are both audiologists who host podcasts exploring audiology and hearing through conversation.Dakota Sharp hosts the “On the Ear” podcast, featuring conversations with audiologists and interprofessional guests, like SLPs. On ASHA’s podcast, Sharp describes the origin of the podcast and tells the story of how an episode inspired a parent to create a device for cochlear implant processor retention.On the “empowEAR Audiology” podcast, Carrie Spangler talks with guests, such as audiologists and parents of children with hearing loss, about hearing loss and related topics. She brings a personal perspective, given her own journey with hearing loss and cochlear implantation. Hear Spangler share what she’s learned from podcasting and what’s next for her.Learn More:Early Cochlear Implantation Linked to Improved Outcomes and Cost SavingsASHA Voices: Researchers Discuss Speech in Noisy Environments, Spatial Awareness, and Bilateral Cochlear ImplantsCI Tech Guidance for SLPs: Troubleshooting DevicesTranscript

Three SLPs share a vision for where stuttering therapy may be headed. It’s part of a larger collection of ASHA Leader content being published in recognition of the ASHA Centennial.As a group, the guests—Farzan Irani from Texas State University, Hope Gerlach-Houck from Western Michigan University, and Nan Bernstein Ratner from the University of Maryland—will be presenting on the past, present, and future of stuttering therapy at the 2025 ASHA Convention in Washington, D.C.Learn More:•              ASHA Voices: Stuttering and Stigma With SLP Derek Daniels•              ASHA Voices: SLPs on Benefits of Incorporating Mindfulness Into Service Delivery•              ASHA Voices: How Do We Ensure Culturally Responsive Practice When Working With People Who Stutter?Transcript

On this short episode, we talk ASHA Convention, our podcast archive, and how you can propose ideas for 2026. Thanks for listening, and I’m looking forward to sharing more conversations with you soon.Learn More:ASHA Voices: Researchers Discuss Speech in Noisy Environments, Spatial Awareness, and Bilateral Cochlear ImplantsASHA Voices Podcast Proposal GuideTranscript

For critically ill patients, what are some practical ways speech-language pathologists can address barriers to communication?Today on the podcast, we talk effective communication between critically ill patients and providers in the ICU, emphasizing the role of augmentative and alternative communication.Guests include speech-language pathologist Tami Altschuler and nursing professor Mary Beth Happ, who describe practical ways SLPs and others working in the ICU can collaborate to create greater access to communication. Both share moving stories that bring this work to life.Plus, SLP Chris Ross shares her personal experience of being unable to communicate during a stay in the ICU.Learn More:ASHA: Communication AccessSPEACS-2 Communication Training ProgramASHA Voices: Creating ‘Ramps’ to Communication Access in Health CareCommunication Access in Health Services Special CollectionAugmentative and Alternative CommunicationTranscript

As an audiologist, what do you say when a patient or client asks to receive gene therapy? The headlines are certainly grabbing public interest, but what does it mean for your practice?Clinical trials and media coverage are driving interest in this novel approach to hearing loss intervention. As our guests share, so far only one gene has received clinical trials. But patients and their families may seek this treatment or ask you questions about what it means for them.To provide background and perspective, we’ll hear from two people well versed in the world of gene therapy for hearing loss: Ryan McCreery of Boys Town National Research Hospital and Jenna Devare of University of Michigan Medical School.Learn More:ASHA Voices: A Promising Outlook for Gene Therapy and Hearing LossFirst Deaf Gene Therapy Recipient in U.S. Gains HearingASHA Voices: The Limits of Our GenesASHA Voices: Audiologists Address Ototoxicity in Cancer CareTranscript

When your career or your current role leaves you seeking a new challenge and something fresh, how do you make a change?Speech-language pathologist Rinki Varindani Desai joins the podcast for a conversation about nontraditional and nonclinical roles open to SLPs. And she shares how SLPs can use their skills and strengths to find new professional opportunities.Varindani Desai’s background is in medical speech-language pathology. She has expanded her work into nontraditional spaces, such as digital consulting. She shares her personal story and the steps other SLPs can consider if they want to make a transition.Also, hear from two other SLPs—Mai Ling Chan and Katie Seaver—who reimagined their careers. They share what they’ve learned through the process.Learn More:ASHA Career PortalCareer Transitions Mentorship Program (CTMP)AI, Digital Health, and the Future-Ready SLPASHA Convention: Beyond the Bedside: Exploring Nonclinical Career Pathways for SLPsTranscript

From patient decision-making to diet modification to interdisciplinary collaboration, guests share their experience and the trends they’re seeing shape and change dysphagia treatment.Featuring three SLPs from ASHA’s Online Conference, “Dysphagia Management: Strengthening Skills, Overcoming Obstacles,” this panel discussion addresses shifting practices related to SLPs’ role in making dietary recommendations.What do these changes mean for your service delivery? And most importantly, how do you communicate these changes to your patients and interdisciplinary collaborators?Learn More:ASHA Online Conference: Dysphagia Management: Strengthening Skills, Overcoming ObstaclesASHA Voices: Avoiding Confusion in Pediatric Feeding and SwallowingASHA Voices: SLPs Make the Case for a Fearless Approach to Dysphagia TreatmentASHA Voices: The Critical but Unseen Social Determinants of Health