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Oral-motor techniques and childlessness.

I should be researching literature for my final capstone presentation. But I'm reading ASHA articles instead.

Here's an ASHA article about oral motor exercises. It's interesting that, in clinic, many of my classmates were using tongue strengthening exercises for articulation intervention, but ASHA maintains that the evidence is insufficient for it. I get the impression that this is still a gray area. And what about range-of-motion exercises as opposed to strengthening exercises?

Speaking of articulation therapy, my internship supervisor and her colleague really like Char Boshart's workshops. Their favorite motto is "Where the tongue rests is where the tongue moves." If the tongue can't move there, the speaker will compensate with the jaw. I'd love to attend one of her workshops to learn more about her techniques. Here's her website.

I love my internship and never want to leave. But one thing has been very interesting: I have never worked with so many parents before. I am one of a small few in my building who does not have children, and I sometimes choose to let this isolate me from the pack (God forbid I be unique). I'm not sure if having children is going to be a part of my path or not. Many of my friends my age do not have kids. My generation is generally having less children, and it honestly doesn't seem so bad. I see firsthand the amount of time and energy the teachers around me spend on/with their kids. They say it's worth it, and I believe them. But I'm glad that, today, I can be comfortable with both of the potential outcomes of my future.

The end is near!

September flew by! I'm loving my school internship. I'm working in a K-3 Elementary school with two great SLPs and wide range of disorders. I'm finally getting some articulation/phonology experience, as well as lots of developmental language and augmentative device intervention. 

The days go by so quickly seeing students back to back, but I love the fast-paced, ever-changing schedule. I also really enjoy working with pre-school and school-aged populations. The relief that comes with enjoying your career is phenomenal. At this point, I'd be happy in any setting. 

ASHA Convention is in Chicago this year and I'm planning to attend. It will be my first trip to Chicago (which is surprising, having lived so close my whole life). I'm so stoked to be in one place with a ton of SLPs/AuDs! 

Graduation will be here before I know it, and I'm nervous! It will be a big transition going from graduate school to the working world. But I am definitely looking forward to earning a real income (minus the student loan payments). Ideally, I would have a job and a new place to live in December, but I don't expect to get a job during the holiday season. It's making me anxious, but I trust that everything will work out. 

I blinked and then it was July.

When I wrote my last post, I was a week into my internship. Yesterday was my last day. I've somehow managed to forego any documentation of my experiences. Allow me to summarize:

• Therapy was mostly designed around cognitive communicative goals, such as attention, memory, problem solving, reasoning, and all of the other cognitive processes involved in communication. 
• My supervisor is an amazing mentor. She started TBI therapy when it was a new discipline, so she had a lot of down-to-earth experience and wisdom to share about the trials and tribulations of therapy. Especially when it comes to navigating the tricky symptoms and characteristics of brain damage. 
• One of my previous clinical educators used to say, "History is everything." And it really is. No person with a brain injury had a blank slate before their injury. 
• Speech pathology is definitely the right career for me. Whether or not I'm any good at it (which I'd wager that I am good enough since I've made it through all of my internships without any major hurdles), I truly enjoy it. The time goes by so much faster when I'm in sessions all day. 
• I met an amazing team of rehab professionals and learned so much more about what they do: OTs, PTs, counselors, behavior therapists, etc. 
• I have to get through an online statistics class (boring, but applicable) and then I'll start my school internship in September. 

So many changes, so little time.

WOW. I can't believe I haven't updated. I haven't been spending as much time in front of a computer lately and, I must say, it's kind of nice.

I've finished my stay at my graduate assistantship. I miss my work family terribly, but I also know that it was time to move on. Time to start doing what I feel I was meant to do. I started my adult health care internship at a traumatic brain injury clinic. Most of the clients are inpatient and receive a full range of services, including OT, PT, Rec therapy, music therapy, social work, counseling for addiction and other psychiatric issues, and behavior intervention. I started last week and observed for most of it. I was able to start some treatment today, with full supervision of course.

I've also started working as a part-time babysitter for an amazing family and their 4-year-old boy, which has kept me busy the last two weekends. But I won't see him again until June after yesterday and I miss him already!

Steve is job searching and it's an emotional rollercoaster (yes, I'm that girlfriend), but I am doing my very best to be supportive and remain confident that he is going to find the position that's right for him in the location that's right for him (and hopefully me!).