ASHA Voices

Speech-language pathologist Amy L. Donaldson returns to the podcast with two fellow members of Portland State University’s Autism and Social Communication Lab, SLP Brandon Eddy and AAC research lead Alyssa Hillary Zisk.When Donaldson was most recently on the podcast, she spoke about normalizing and destigmatizing AAC use. In this episode, Donaldson, Eddy, and Zisk continue with a conversation on AAC, communication access, and agency.Guests discuss what it means to use a participatory research model in their lab, and they share updates on the work they are doing in their lab around topics like internal speech experiences, “expensive speech,” and universal access.TranscriptLearn More:ASHA Voices: An SLP’s Path to Leading a Neurodiversity-Affirming ClinicASHA Voices: A Neurodivergent SLP on Creating Affirming Spaces for Clients, Colleagues, and HerselfAutistic Communication: A Survey of School-Based Professionals “Everyone Deserves AAC”: Preliminary Study of the Experiences of Speaking Autistic Adults Who Use Augmentative and Alternative CommunicationDisability in Speech and Hearing Sciences: Reflections on RepresentationCommunication Participation Item Bank — A tool that measures how communication affects participation in everyday life situations.National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) — ASHA’s data collection system that incorporates patient-reported outcomes measures, including the CPIB, to help evaluate functional communication outcomes and participation in real-world settings.

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

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

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

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

What information do we receive from the sound around us? Hear thoughts from Matt Goupell (University of Maryland) and Brian Monson (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), who join the podcast to discuss their research, along with findings on speech in noisy environments and spatial awareness.Goupell and Monson are presenting at the 2025 ASHA Research Symposium on Hearing at the ASHA Convention. As part of ASHA Voices’ annual coverage of that symposium, they join the podcast to discuss their presentations and research.First, Monson shares what we can learn from extended high frequencies—those frequencies higher than 8,000 Hz. He shares thoughts on why these quieter frequencies may be the first to go. Then, Goupell tells us what bilateral cochlear implants are doing well, and how he hopes to see them improve in the future.Learn More:Research Symposium on HearingASHA Voices: A Promising Outlook for Gene Therapy and Hearing LossASHA Voices: The Community Link to Hearing Care AccessTranscript