On our latest episode of The FOX Five, Michelle MacLean, SLP, pulls the curtain back on everything you did not know about speech-language pathology. Sure, being an SLP centers around speech and language, but there are countless other ways a clinician can help a patient in this essential discipline. Working with someone on their breath control, helping patients with cognitive deficits interact with today’s technology, and even supporting people in accent and dialect modification fall under the scope of practice of an SLP. If you want to know, watch the latest edition of The FOX Five now!

Jim: Hey everyone, welcome to The FOX Five, the show that explores FOX Rehabilitation through an original list created by a FOX colleague. Please welcome to the FOX Five, FOX Rehabilitation speech-language pathologist Michelle MacLean. Michelle, welcome to the FOX Five!

Michelle: Thanks for having me.

Jim: You treat in the Lone Star State; any chance you know Anna Taptich?

Michelle: Uh, I don’t.

Jim: I’ll have to get you two together; she was a recent guest on The FOX Five.

Michelle: Oh, very awesome.

Jim: But as you know, Texas is a huge state.

Michelle: Yes, it’s huge. It takes forever to get out of Texas in any direction.

Jim: So, Michelle, what is your FOX Five today?

Michelle: So, my FOX Five today is Five Things You May Not Know About Speech-Language Pathology.

Jim: I speak with SLPs often, and there are many myths that they have to dispel about the profession.

Michelle: There are lots of things that people don’t know about speech pathology and what we can help patients with. There’s just so much that we can do.

Jim: And I would imagine when you treat a new patient, you probably have to go through the same spiel many times?

Michelle: Yeah, and I tell them it’s hard to explain all the things we can do, so I try to highlight just the things they need because it’s a long list.

Jim: Alright, so let’s educate people today on the FOX Five. What is Number One?

Michelle: Number One is that SLPs work on breath support and control. SLPs work a lot on breath support and control for our COPD patients or even our Parkinson’s patients. We use respiratory strengthening devices like the EMST to help strengthen breath support and control for communicating and even to help with energy conservation. This also helps strengthen muscles used for swallowing.

Jim: There you go; you didn’t know that, but you do now.

Michelle: Exactly. But, of course, we can adapt without using all of the fancy devices, whether it’s using tissues or even blowing bubbles to help provide feedback on patients' respiratory strength and control.

Jim: I love the thought of someone blowing into a Kleenex because it’s so visual.

Michelle: Yes, you can see the results right away. That’s exactly why it’s used—to help motivate the patient. Like, "Okay, when I do it this way, it works."

Jim: Michelle, that brings us to Number Two on your FOX Five.

Michelle: So, Number Two is cognition in the tech world. As we all know, cognition is targeted heavily in this population. I wanted to highlight how SLPs help cognitively impaired patients with today’s technology because it can be a lot. For example, with iPhones, I’ve even created books with pages of instructions and picture diagrams to help patients sequence the complex steps of iPhones. This, in turn, helps patients become more independent and communicate with their loved ones.

Jim: Yes, I say you’ve got to lean into that tech.

Michelle: Exactly. Some older adults are stubborn and don’t want to lean into the tech, but once they discover it, it opens up a whole new world for them.

Jim: Yeah, technology can be scary for this population, of course, but even for me, it’s scary.

Michelle: Yeah, technology is always evolving. I’m trying to keep up too.

Jim: And that brings us to Number Three on your FOX Five.

Michelle: Number Three is adult pragmatics. In an SLP’s scope of treatment, even with the adult population, SLPs can coach and model appropriate social pragmatic skills. This is often necessary for stroke or TBI (traumatic brain injury) patients who have difficulty with conversation conventions like eye contact or turn-taking. We also do lots of education for their families on these pragmatic deficits and how to help them.

Jim: Keep them coming, keep them coming, Michelle. We’re up to Number Four on your FOX Five.

Michelle: Number Four is adults with stuttering. Stuttering is not as commonly seen in our adult population, but it is definitely targeted with communication strategies. We work on increasing their confidence with communication and their acceptance of stuttering. I’ve even walked with a handful of my patients in their community. Once they feel more confident, I have them practice their strategies with familiar and unfamiliar listeners, even with myself by their side, just to help them be more comfortable with their stuttering.

Jim: And Michelle, that brings us to Number Five on your FOX Five.

Michelle: So , Number Five, again, I saved for last because it’s my favorite, is SLPs helping people with accent modification. Whether that’s people wanting to change their dialect, professionals wanting to communicate better at work, or even actors learning new accents for roles in film. I think it’s safe to say that SLPs are out there in Hollywood.

Jim: Wow! Now, have you worked with any Hollywood actors?

Michelle: No, I haven’t, but maybe one day.

Jim: That’s very fitting that you saved that for the end because I did not know that about speech-language pathology.

Michelle: It’s definitely a fun fact for sure. Like, that’s pretty cool. I might go fly out to California and see if I can get my foot in the door.

Jim: Well, Michelle, thank you for your time and for your FOX Five today.

Michelle: Yeah, thank you so much for having me.