The National Aphasia Association and American Stroke Association have collaborated to create a new free, personalized, downloadable aphasia ID card. This is a wonderful resource for letting other people know that you have aphasia (family, friends, or even the local librarian or Starbucks barista) and to support your communication with them. Although we hope this is never the case, it… Read More »Aphasia ID Card: A New, Free, Personalized Option
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, one of the earliest signs of Parkinson’s Disease is “a soft or low voice.” About 90% of people with Parkinson’s experience changes in their speech, voice, and/or swallowing related to the progression of the disease. Fortunately, two evidence-based speech therapy programs have been developed: SPEAK OUT!® and LSVT LOUD®. In honor of Parkinson’s Awareness Month… Read More »SPEAK OUT! and LSVT Loud: Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease:
For today’s post, I’ve compiled a list of free mindfulness and meditation resources. Many people have heard and learned about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, but often don’t know how or where to start. This can be even more difficult or overwhelming after a brain injury. My first recommendation is to remember that mindfulness and meditations are called practices… Read More »Mindfulness and Meditation for Brain Injury and Beyond
Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder resulting from an injury to the brain, most often a stroke. It can impact a person’s ability to express themselves, understand others, and/or read and write. I’ve blogged previously about speech therapy for aphasia and virtual conversation groups. I also maintain a list of aphasia-related websites on my Resources page. Today I’d like to… Read More »Aphasia Resources: Online and in the Local Community
Approximately 10 million adults have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood, its effects can linger into adulthood, impacting cognitive skills and communication abilities. In fact, many of the clients I’ve worked with in my practice were first diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, rather than as a child. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Adult ADHD can… Read More »How to improve attention, memory, and executive function in adults with ADHD
We’ve been growing and adapting for three years: the idea for Lotus Speech & Wellness first developed in 2020, I saw my first Maine client in the fall of 2021, and now two years later I have an established speech therapy practice in Maine! Though the mission to improve communication, cognition, and mind-body wellness has stayed the same, I’m excited… Read More »Updates and New Offerings at Lotus Speech & Wellness
We are excited to announce a new wellness offering at Lotus Speech & Wellness: a virtual Parkinson’s voice practice group! Parkinson’s Voice Practice Group: At a Glance Who: Residents of Maine who have noticed changes in their speech related to Parkinson’s Disease. What: A fun, supportive, weekly virtual speech and voice practice group. Where: Online, from the comfort of your… Read More »NEW! Virtual Parkinson’s Voice Practice Group
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. To kick it off, I am excited to share an interview I did recently with Jasper Delichte from Voices of Brain Injury. Keep reading to learn about her organization, and to read an excerpt from the interview. For more information and resources about brain injury, visit the Brain Injury Association of America’s website, or… Read More »Voices of Brain Injury: Inspiring Stories and the Value of Speech Therapy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telepractice has become much more common, and seems to be sticking around. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of telepractice. What is telepractice? Telepractice (also referred to as teletherapy or telehealth) refers to accessing services online, usually from your home. Even though you are not “in-person”, you will be able to see the face… Read More »Benefits of Telepractice: Why Online Services are Here to Stay
Caitlin and I started the Lotus Speech & Wellness blog over two years ago, in November of 2020 (read our first blog post HERE.) Our private practice actually started as an online resource focusing on holistic approaches to speech, language, and cognition for adults with neurological communication disorders. We’ve continued posting a new blog post at least once a month… Read More »The Lotus Speech & Wellness Blog is an Online Resource