Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC

Examining Eosinophilic Esophagitis with Dr. Gregg with Gregory Black

April 29th, 2020  |  1 hr 13 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Gregory Black, MD - In this episode Michelle is joined by Dr. Gregg Black, the current President of the SC Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Society, and guest for Episode 13 “So You’re Telling Me Allergy Testing is Important?”, and Episode 18 “Dairy vs Soy vs What? The Correct Formula for Your Allergy and Why!” and they are taking a closer examination of that elusive Eosinophilic Esophagitis diagnosis. Okay, so let’s admit, most of us had never heard of “EOE”, as it is more commonly known, in grad school, but it appears to be popping up left and right these days when we go to obtain a past medical history for our patients. This is a hard diagnosis to come by, and unfortunately, it is a hard diagnosis to effectively treat, and for the “Feeding Therapist”, well y’all it’s hard to try new foods when we are worried about which ones our patient’s could be allergic too. That’s where the lovely Dr. Gregg Black comes in! He is back y’all to explain all about EOE! Through his helpful tips, all of us in the trenches will find better footing in the evaluation and treatment process for our patients! Three Cheers for Dr. Gregg!

Effective Early Intervention for Individuals with Down Syndrome with Kelly Kleinhans

April 23rd, 2020  |  1 hr 5 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Kelly Kleinhans, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Kelly Kleinhans, PhD, CCC-SLP, who was awarded the 2017 Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association-American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Clinical Achievement Award for her work with persons with Down syndrome. Dr. Kelly, who is currently serving as past president of the Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association, is here today to share her passion for best practices for total communication and early introduction of AAC for individuals who have Down syndrome. Have you noticed the inclusive advertisements for some of our favorite shopping centers? Have you noticed the new face on some of our favorite baby food jars lately? Dr. Kelly and First Bite sure have! So after we tackle “all thangs” EBP for total communication and AAC, Dr. Kelly is going to discuss the empowering trends in social media for acceptance and inclusion! You’re probably going to want to listen to this fabulous hour with your latte in hand while pushing your favorite red shopping cart!

Tricky Tethered Tissues with Erin Forward

April 15th, 2020  |  1 hr 10 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by co-host extraordinaire Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP…and they are taking on those tricky tethered tissue issues. Have you too been confused about the HIPAA compliant pictures that you see popping up on social media that ask advice about that presumed “tongue tie”? Or has a colleague sent you a HIPAA friendly pic of a supposed “lip tie” and asked your advice about a static image? Welp, us too! In this episode Michelle and Erin address normal anatomical variations, the history of tethered tissue treatments, and what the evidence currently tells us. Enjoy the untanglement!

Cari Ebert on Delivering Extraordinary Early Intervention!

April 8th, 2020  |  1 hr 10 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Cari Ebert, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined the one and only Cari Ebert, MS CCC-SLP, of the famous Cari Ebert Seminars! Cari, who is a passionate pediatric SLP focusing on Early Intervention and Apraxia, an Autism Momma, a proud defender of play, a breast cancer survivor, author, professional speaker, and as she says a frequent flyer, is a one stop shop for EBP resources and is here today to tackle the evidenced based trend towards Coaching. Watch out EI SLP’s…we heard that worried sigh of “Oh No not Coaching!”, but fear not! Cari illuminates the common misunderstanding between Coaching and Counseling, then turns around and busts open the obstacles to coaching with function and fun resources to set you and your patients up for success. It’s a double whammy of energy and enthusiasm for putting evidence into the world of Early Intervention this hour!

SPECIAL EPISODE: Teletherapy from EI to High School: Practical Applications and Resources (Panel Discussion From Teletherapy Bootcamp)

March 27th, 2020  |  2 hrs 6 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Panelists: Michelle L. W. Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC; Andrea M.Szwabowski, M.H.S., CCC-SLP/L; Marisha Mets, MS, CCC-SLP; Carrie Clark, CCC-SLP; Jessi Andricks MS, CCC-SLP; Lauren Tandy, MS CCC-SLP

This panel of presenters discussed teletherapy, the essential and best practices for EI to High School related services.

Clinical Practicums Gone ‘Ka-Boom’ and How to Fix Them with Kari Comer

March 25th, 2020  |  1 hr 4 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Presenters: Kari Comer, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined again by Kari Comer, MS CCC-SLP, Clinical Supervisor, Adjunct Professor, and Outreach Coordinator at The George Washington University, and Current President of the D.C. Speech Language and Hearing Association. Kari, who was featured in Episode #75, “Clinical Supervision as told by the SLP President of DC”, is back to address the hard cases of Clinical Supervision… or in simpler terms what to do when it all goes “Ka-Blooey”! Kari will offer examples of some of the most common professionalism concerns regarding Clinical Supervisors, Student Clinicians, and then functional strategies for turning a wayward Clinical Practicum around into a positive learning experience.

Those Confounding Cranial Nerves! with Erin Forward

March 18th, 2020  |  1 hr 10 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by everyone’s favorite First Bite co-host, Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, to address those confounding cranial nerves! On Old Olympus towering Tops A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops… well sure that quick mnemonic diddy helped you ace your anatomy test in grad school, but what did you really learn about the cranial nerves for speech and swallowing development? The Vagus, sure he wanders, but what about his implication in cardiac repair surger? The Trigeminal, sure he does sensation and motor innervation, but what about when the little one had a grade 4 bleed at week 32? Do you know what could be impacted? In this hour Michelle and Erin take on all 12 nerves and guarantee to toss in a funny bone too!

The Intersection of American Sign Language and Early Intervention with Jill Eversmann

March 4th, 2020  |  1 hr 5 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Jill Eversmann, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the accomplished lecturer Jill Eversmann, MS CCC-SLP, Academic and Clinical Faculty of Columbia College, and X instructor w/ ASDF. In this hour they challenge all the preconceived notions about incorporating American Sign Language into Early Intervention….in short, they will teach you how “talking with your hands” is an excellent strategy to increase acquisition of functional communication, the differences between Baby Sign and American Sign Language, and the best resources and references behind the beautiful intersection that is ASL and EI. Be sure to stretch before this hour, because it will have you moving!

Clinical Indicators for NPO with Erin Forward

February 19th, 2020  |  1 hr 10 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle and Erin tackle when it is appropriate to say “NPO”. That’s right, sometimes it falls on us as the Feeding and Dysphagia experts to share with the rest of the Interprofessional Team that we have concerns for safety of PO intake. But, we need to be able recognize how the “Little One’s” Cardiac, Gastrointestinal, and Respiratory systems contribute or dictate that NPO status. Again, we need to be able to when the pleasure and quality of a feed are fading and our patients need advocacy and support. Baselines change often for our complex patients and this is the episode that differentiates the signs and symptoms of when we can say “NPO” and when we can joyously celebrate moving towards “PO” again.

National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing and You! with Kia Noelle Johnson

February 5th, 2020  |  1 hr 10 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - In recognition of Black History Month, Michelle interviews the amazing Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Dr. Johnson, who serves on the ASHA Board of Directors as the National Advisor to the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, is also an 18-year member of the National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing where she currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. She is also a proud alumna of the 2006 class of the ASHA Minority Student Leadership Program. This is a fast paced hour that covers a lot of ground: everything from the history of African Americans prevalence and growth within the world of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, how an SLP working in the world of Early Intervention needs to ethically assess and treat a child with a suspected language delay or impairment when a little one that we are working with has AAVE or resides with a family who speaks using a recognized dialect such as Gullah or Geechee, and how one could become involved in such groups as NBASLH and the Student Minority Leadership Program at ASHA. Enjoy the encouragement in how we can encourage diversity within our field at a local grassroots effort!

The More the Merrier: Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Co-Treatments with an OT, Psychologist, and an SLP with Rob Dempster and Elizabeth “Beth” Halpin

January 29th, 2020  |  1 hr 8 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guests: Rob Dempster, PhD and Elizabeth “Beth” Halpin, MHS, OTR/L, SCFES - In this episode Michelle is joined by Elizabeth (Beth) Halpin, MHS, OTR/L, SCFES, from episode #60 “Ots and Feeding? Who knew!?!” and Rob Dempster, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, from episode #71 Psyched about Psychology and Feeding!”. In this hour of “First Bite”, the dynamic duo opens up about their collaboration for a combined treatment approach for pediatric feeding and swallowing disordersThey share the good, the bad, the ugly: lesson’s learned about best practice for a team approach, etiologies that benefit the most from a team approach, as well as their favorite “do-overs”…as in, “welp if we had known this, then we would have done this”…and let’s be honest, the do-overs tend to be the best life lessons! Let this cheery episode warm you up this chilly winter day!

Top Ten Takeaways from ASHA 2019 with Erin Forward

January 22nd, 2020  |  1 hr 1 min

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Co-Host: Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle and Erin have fully recovered from the intensity that is the annual ASHA Convention from November 2019. Why is that great news? Easy! They are going to share their “Top 10 Takeaways” for adding functional evidence to your practice! They will take you on an EBP hunt in the exhibit hall, hit up Erin’s Top 3 Lectures, and wrap with Michelle’s Top 3 Lectures, and spread some joy that can be found by being surrounded by almost 14,000 colleagues. If you weren’t able to make to Orlando this past year, no worries, they are all set to bring the magic to you!

The Power of Prompting and Push-In for AAC with Stephen Kneece

January 15th, 2020  |  1 hr 8 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Stephen Kneece MA CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined once again by Stephen Kneece, MA, CCC-SLP, who serves as the President-Elect-Elect of SCSHA (South Carolina Speech-Language Hearing Association), the CEO/Founder of Speech and Language Songs, as well as a graduate of the ASHA LDP (Leadership Development Program). Today Stephen, who works as an Assistive Technology Consultant for his local school district, discusses the concept of “Prompting Hierarchy” and how to use it effectively with AAC, as well as pros and cons of utilizing a “Push-In” model for AAC in an Elementary School and in a Daycare for Early Intervention. The guru behind “Speech and Language Songs”, found on YouTube and Instagram, packs quite the perky punch in this episode… bonus points… he can really rock that guitar and solo vocals!

Adventures in Feeding with Melanie Potock

January 8th, 2020  |  1 hr 3 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the one and only Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, author of the critically acclaimed and widely successful books “Raising a Healthy Happy Eater: A Stage-by-Stage Guide to Setting Your Child on the Path to Adventurous Eating” (2015),“Baby Self-Feeding: Solutions for Introducing Purees and Solids to Create Lifelong Healthy Eating Habits (2016)”. And the popular food activity book, titled “Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 100 Easy Activities and Recipes (2018)”. Melanie serves up a scrumptious hour jammed pack with busting “Baby-Led Weaning” myths, elaborating on her “3 Easy E’s”, and highlighting some of her favorite family mealtime tips from other cultures and how they can encourage healthy eating habits for your little one…as well as infuse joy into a home!

Common Pediatric Medications and Their Role in Feeding and Swallowing Disorders with Lisa Milliken

December 30th, 2019  |  1 hr 4 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Lisa Milliken, MA CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP - In this episode Michelle is joined by Lisa Young Milliken, MA, CCC, FNAP, CDP, who received her BA from Louisiana Tech University and her MA from The University of Memphis in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. Have you had questions regarding that laundry list of medications that your pediatric patient is taking? No fear and no shame from us here at First Bite…. because we have had the same questions too! Did you know that certain common medications for GERD and seizure management could trigger an oroprharyngeal dysphagia, trigger constipation, or result in bone density issues? As Clinicians we need to understand how the medications that our patients are taking can impact their hunger cues and desire for PO trials, or contribute to safety issues for PO intake… and Lisa is here to clarify the muddy waters that is pediatric medications.

Ethical Dilemmas and Solutions for the Early Intervention SLP with Melanie W. Hudson

December 18th, 2019  |  1 hr 7 mins

asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy

Guest: Melanie W. Hudson, M.A. CCC-SLP, F-ASHA, F-NAP - In this episode Michelle is joined by the esteemed Melanie W. Hudson, M.A. CCC-SLP, National Director at EBS Healthcare, ASHA Fellow, and Distinguished Fellow of National Academies of Practice (NAP), as well as author of “Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 4th edition” (Lubinski & Hudson; Delmar, Cengage Learning, 2013; Plural Publishing, 2018). Today they address the tough questions… common ethical issues that Early Intervention SLPs face each day. Billing concerns, patient abandonment, and the new 2020 ASHA Code of Ethics updates are all covered in this episode that is designed to lift your spirits, get that knot of dread out of your stomach, and leave you feeling refreshed for the start of the new year!