Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a term that many of us thought a lot about during our time as students, but how about now as practicing clinicians? It can be far too easy to let research slip away from the forefront of our minds and settle into comfortable routines of clinical practice. It is crucial that we remain plugged into the latest research to make sure that what we are doing is aligned with evidence-based practice. As defined by ASHA, EBP includes clinical expertise, internal and external evidence, and client perspectives. Here are a few ways to stay connected to high quality evidence while juggling all the other responsibilities of being an SLP: Collect sources that are applicable to the caseload that you serve. There are many wonderful resources available to us through the ASHA practice portal. Spend some time searching through the latest journals to find information that could benefit your students. Additionally, SIGs and organizations such as The Informed SLP take away some of the heavy lifting and create digestible forums already prepared. Keep a "practice bank." It is a great start to be sifting through evidence and articles galore, but what do we do with them afterwards? Transform your application of evidence by creating a system that works for you. Save journals in an organized fashion with notes that include assessment and treatment ideas, tools, and resources. Connect with SLP communities. Having a growth mindset means continual dedication and devotion to learning. Learning with others can make evidence feel transformative and "alive" instead of theoretical. Find professional virtual groups, local meet-ups, or communities of practice where evidence can become tangible. EBP doesn't have to be intimating or all-consuming. With a few intentional habits, you can stay plugged in to the latest research and be confident in clinical decisions. Hannah Collie, M.S., CCC-SLP
During MLK Week, I read a book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to some of my students and incorporated it into our speech and language goals. As I was reading to one of my third-grade students who hates coming to speech and hopes every time I come to pick him up that I will forget, he suddenly stopped me and said, “Wow… he did all of that?” I smiled and said, “Yes, and he looked just like you.” We talked about how Dr. King gave powerful speeches and helped shape the world we live in today. I emphasized how hard he worked in school and how much he valued education. I also shared that Dr. King intentionally worked on his voice and communication. I explained that this is exactly why speech therapy matters, because I want to help him use his voice in a way that can have impact, just like Dr. King did. My journey into this field began with my son, who had a language delay when he was younger. Along the way, I encountered stigma and comments suggesting we should “wait it out” or that he would “grow out of it” like other children. Unfortunately, that is not everyone’s story. What we now know is that early intervention is key. Speech therapy changed my life. My son is now excelling both developmentally and academically, and I went on to earn my master’s degree in speech-language pathology. As a Black speech-language pathologist, I know how powerful it is for children to see someone who looks like them helping them find their voice. Representation matters. When Black students see Black professionals in supportive roles, it helps break down fear, stigma, and shame. So many amazing Black Americans did not start out with perfect communication skills. Dr. King trained his voice and pacing. Shaquille O’Neal had a childhood stutter. Kendrick Lamar has spoken about communication struggles growing up. James Earl Jones, the iconic voice of Mufasa from Disney's The Lion King, had a severe stutter. Even LeBron James has discussed speech anxiety early in his career. The common thread is support. Needing help is nothing to be embarrassed about. When students see themselves reflected in both history and the professionals guiding them, they learn that their voice matters and that it deserves to be heard. Courtney Stafford, M.S., CF-SLP
Holidays provide meaningful opportunities to engage students in therapy while making learning enjoyable. Valentine’s Day, in particular, offers many creative ways to target language, articulation, and social communication skills within a functional and motivating context. Language: Fostering Meaningful Communication Resources such as Canva, PowerPoint, and Pink Cat Games can be used to create slides depicting Valentine’s Day scenes. Having students describe aspects of the illustrations, such as flowers, chocolates, cards, and candy, is an effective way to encourage the functional use of adjectives and descriptive language. Valentine’s-themed items can also be used for compare-and-contrast activities (e.g., different kinds of candy or types of flowers) to build vocabulary, categorization skills, and expressive language. Articulation: Word Lists and Beyond One fun and adaptable way to incorporate Valentine’s Day into a therapy session is by playing a themed game of Would You Rather. Creating holiday-related questions opens opportunities for naturalistic discussion while allowing the clinician to listen closely for target sounds and carryover. Craft activities are another engaging way to take articulation drills to the next level. Creative pairings of speech sounds with Valentine’s crafts, such as making a Mad Libs page, creating a “love bug,” or completing a themed articulation dot-art page, help maintain motivation while supporting speech practice. Social Language: The Possibilities Are Endless Holidays are also ideal for addressing higher-level language and social skills. Realistic scenarios can be applied to students’ own experiences, such as discussing manners when receiving gifts or identifying kind and appropriate ways to show care for others. Practicing giving and receiving compliments through structured games allows students to share joy and kindness in ways that are meaningful and well-received by peers. These ideas demonstrate how imagination and clinical expertise can come together to make speech therapy enjoyable, functional, and full of care for our clients. Hannah Collie, M.S., CCC-SLP
