The Informed SLP, 5251 W 116th Place, Suite 200, Leawood, KS (2026)

04/06/2026

Many of us were taught that most late talkers will "catch up" in time, but new data suggest that rates of future language/literacy disorders for these kids may be higher than we thought.

Our research review "How do late talkers fare in the long run?" discusses Mettler et al.'s study of kids with language disorders and their late talker status.

Check it out https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/How-do-late-talkers-fare-in-the-long-run. It will change the way you think about how to approach late talking.

The research: https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_JSLHR-25-00117

[Visual description: Image text reads, "New study alert: Over 50% of former late talkers had language or literacy disorders. That’s a lot more than we would have expected! Let’s talk about it. A sample of former late talkers showed more: Complex vocabulary struggles, Phonology deficits, Reading comprehension difficulties, Speech-related differences, Higher rates of dyslexia risk. So instead of “wait and see,” SLPs should: Take late talking seriously, Monitor late talkers closely, Counsel parents about risks as language demands increase, Use predictive tools to identify language disorders risks early. Check out our research review to find: Details about Mettler et al.’s study and how it might change our EBP, Links to tools and resources for supporting late talkers, and 10 minutes of CE credit. Don’t overlook late talking as a risk factor for language disorders. Learn more at the link in our caption today."]

04/03/2026

The Informed SLP and Informed Jobs have officially moved in together at theinformedslp.com. We’ve tucked the Jobs tab right next to the Research hub. For SLPs who are ready for a change, the Jobs board is waiting. For the employers, you’re now posting in front of the 40,000+ SLPs (dedicated to evidence-based practice) who visit us monthly.

We’ve also organized the Membership area so you can easily find information about our continuing education options, as well as our team and university membership plans.

Clinical growth and career growth all in one place. What could be better?!

Check it all out at theinformedslp.com

[Visual description: A series of illustrations featuring a laptop and snapshots of a new website interface. Image text reads, "The long-distance relationship is over... The Informed SLP and Informed Jobs have officially moved in together! The Jobs tab even got its own room, settled in right next to our Research hub. And because no move is complete without renovations, we've polished up the Membership tab to keep everything in one spot. Looking for a change? You're in the right place. Check the jobs board for your next move. Looking to hire? You're also in the right place! Post your opening in front of the 40,000+ SLPs who visit us monthly."]

04/01/2026

This month we're not just announcing a new TISLP issue full of big research news, resource gold mines, and innovative treatment approaches.

We're also inviting you to share in our celebration of 10 years as a company!

Yes! We’ve come a long way since starting as a lil’ blog Meredith Harold (our owner) wrote in her free time, and we’re so grateful to all of you members for making this work possible.

Find the latest in EBP for SLPs at www.TheInformedSLP.com/reviews today.

[Visual description: Image text reads, “April’s research reviews are here! Along with a special “Save the Date" invite for everyone, too! Check it out! Pediatric SLPs have tons to read about: Supporting preschoolers with free caregiver coaching resources for EI providers, social consequences of SSDs, and CAS diagnosis before age 3, biofeedback for working on that stubborn /r/, defining what “collaborative approach” really means. There’s more for peds… And even more for Pediatric SLPs on: Reframing restricted and repetitive behaviors and specific interests, collaboration between SLPs and Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and how determining EI eligibility with “Percent delay” is just wrong (please share this one with friends!). Adult med SLPs you’re next. Adult Med SLPs, we’ve got the latest on: Aphasia outcomes after group storytelling intervention, aphasia outcomes with group intervention (versus dyads) in general, and free and quick self-administered cognition screenings for adults. Adult SLPs, keep reading… And there’s more for Adult Med SLPs, too: Autistic people’s wellbeing in the classroom and beyond, resources to help adults new to their autistic diagnosis, shingles, dysphagia, and dysarthria, and inclusion body myositis and dysphagia intervention. Swipe for a Save The Date. And we’re inviting everyone to join us for: Our very first free live virtual TISLP conference we’re holding on May 8th! And an upcoming celebration of TISLP’s 10-year anniversary with a special anniversary issue in May! We’re so excited. And so grateful to our members! Read reviews and watch for details at www.TheInformedSLP.com.”]

03/31/2026

If you’ve been "meaning to get to" those CEUs all month, this is your sign. You have until midnight tonight (CST) to clock 3 hours and get your name in the hat for our challenge drawing.

We know, we know. The paperwork is piling up and that one evaluation ran over. But future you will be glad you pushed through, especially since we're announcing the winner tomorrow April 1st (seriously, how is it April already?!).

The winner will be walking away with a Book of the Month Club subscription and an Awesome Socks Club subscription.

Make sure you’ve opted in here: https://theinformedslp.ac-page.com/challenge. Go get 'em!

[Visual description: An illustration of a woman working on a laptop. Image text reads, "It's the fi-nal countdown... Da da daa da, da da dada daa! Today is your last chance to complete 3 hours of CE and be entered into our April 1st prize draw!"]

03/26/2026

Effort is something only your patient can fully report. And research supports perceived effort as a primary component of how we understand and monitor swallowing and voice function. An effort scale gives you a window into that experience, helping you track progress, adjust treatment intensity, and catch early signs of overexertion before they become barriers to participation.

Grab our effort scale and clinical tips in 'What's effort got to do with it?' to make asking about effort, effortless at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/Whats-effort-got-to-do-with-it

The research:
https://doi.org/10.1080/14779072.2019.1561278
https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_jslhr-25-00070

[Visual description: Image text reads, "Looking for an effortless way to: Track patient progress, Adjust treatment intensity, and Support motivation and engagement in therapy? Try an effort scale! Based on this scale, how much effort do you perceive when using your voice daily?" Image of a visual scale that illustrates levels of effort that is perceived when using voice. The scale runs diagonally upward from left to right, labeled from 0 to 10. Image text reads, "Grab our effort scale and clinical tips! Read our review 'What's effort got to do with it?' to make asking about effort, effortless! Find it at the link in our caption."]

03/24/2026

We’ve all got our favorite metaphors for describing that conversational turn-taking that’s so important for language development. But Hoen et al.’s new research suggests we expand our approach to use a "serve-return-rally" metaphor. Keeping the game going offers even more opportunities for skill building!

Check out our research review to find:

-our discussion of 3 different strategies to integrate serve-return-rally metaphor in our therapy,

-a printable handout of go-to tips and tricks for targeting these skills in practice,

-a script to use with parents when teaching the topic in therapy, and

-13 minutes of CE credit.

Find it at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/turn-serve-and-return-into-a-game-of-keepy-uppy and (in the spirit of communication rallies) let us know in the comments: What do you think about this metaphor?

The research: https://doi.org/10.1093/cdpers/aadaf005

[Visual description: Cartoon image of two dogs playing a turn-taking game with a balloon to keep it off the floor. Image text reads, "Don't drop the conversation." Image text reads, "Download our caregiver-friendly handout with helpful tips on how to play communication “keepy uppy”." with preview of the caregiver handout.]

03/21/2026

Today is World Down Syndrome Day! While the mismatched socks are a great starting point, as clinicians, we know the real advocacy happens in the treatment room.

We can support our clients with Down Syndrome by showing up with the best evidence available. To add to your expertise, we’ve rounded up 5 of our top research reviews to support your intentional, high-impact practice.

You can find the research, clinical tools, and ASHA-approved CEUs waiting for you here: https://www.theinformedslp.com/reviews?topic=Intellectual%20Disabilities

[Visual description: Cartoon image of mismatched socks. Image text reads, “It's World Down Syndrome Day! And while we're here for the mismatched socks, we're really here for the evidence. Swipe for our top 5 reviews on DS. REVIEW: DS and communication. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: The ultimate clinical "run-down" for every life stage, from birth to adulthood. Why we need to finally retire the "enlarged tongue" myth (and what to focus on instead). How to leverage social-relatedness strengths to bridge the expressive language gap. REVIEW: Big mouth = big results for intelligibility in DS. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: The one specific cue that consistently outperforms "loud speech" for clarity. How to get slower rates and better pausing with just four simple words. Why "strong voice" might not be the "bang for your buck" cue you think it is. REVIEW: Developmental milestones for children with DS. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why "typical" milestones are often a clinical dead end for our families. A DS-specific roadmap (ages 4-18 months) to track progress that actually matters. How to help parents see the path forward with evidence, not just averages. REVIEW: Adapting our early language strategies for children with DS. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to pivot your favorite "tried-and-true" strategies to better fit a DS profile. Why your hybrid or telepractice sessions might actually be a major clinical win. The secret to modeling AAC when your client's attention is moving at warp speed. REVIEW: It's an AAC grammar glow up. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why high-tech AAC should be your first move, not a last resort. The specific instructional style that helps kids move past single icons to real sentences. A simple display layout trick that makes motor learning much easier. Honor the day with better practice. Head to the link in our bio to read the full reviews, grab the clinical tools, and earn ASHA-approved CEUs.”]

03/18/2026

While we are pretty great at letting families know how important modeling is, we may be missing a trick when it comes to helping them make it automatic.

Visit https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/Location-location-location to read our research review “Location, location, location” to learn how Dukhovny and colleagues’ new practice protocol can help families learn to boost language learning by rapidly (and regularly) accessing symbols within their children’s AAC systems.

The research:
https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_persp-25-00122
https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_lshss-24-00059

[Visual description: Image text reads, "Modeling AAC works best when it’s fast, fluent, and fun. Teach parents how to get there with this simple practice approach... This protocol asks parents to use their child’s AAC device to: 1. Select target words (up to 10) 2. Navigate to these words 3-4 times per session (without their child present) 3. Practice regularly for 6 weeks. Check out our research review for: Evidence on using explicit and structured navigation instruction with kids using AAC. Details about the symbol navigation practice protocol. Tips for teaching it to parents included in a printable, parent-friendly worksheet! Helping parents become fluent and confident AAC navigators helps their kids, too. Learn more at the link in the caption."]

03/16/2026

We know that when you mix developmental language disorders (DLD) and co-occurring memory issues, it can be pretty tricky for SLPs to find the most effective strategies to help kids navigating these dual challenges.

Learn about Hill et al.’s study, which solidifies narrative intervention as a core component of language intervention, in our research review "An unforgettable story," and:

-read about how narrative intervention can help kids with all types of DLD,

-hear evidence about using explicit text structure instruction to improve reading comprehension,

-find 5 evidence-based strategies to get you started with narrative instruction, and

-earn 8 minutes of CE credit.

Find it at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/An-unforgettable-story today!

The research: https://doi.org/10.1080/15248372.2025.2571554

[Visual description: Cartoon image of two smiling children standing in front of a bookshelf. The shelves are filled with colorful books labeled with life experiences, such as “Formative Memories,” “The Awkward Years + Misc. Trauma,” and “Adulting.” Some books have titles, such as "First Date", "The Incident", and "Classic Anecdotes". A speech bubble from the child on the right says, “This is the narrative structure where I keep my memories. I’d lose them without it!” Image text reads, “We all remember stuff through stories. And for kids with DLD, we can use that skill for way more than walks down Memory Lane.”]

03/12/2026

All of us want to do our best when it comes to supporting every single one of our clients. For those of us looking for better verbiage to conceptualize dialect features and a better understanding of the diverse language varieties on our caseloads, our research review of Dr. Janna Oetting’s proposed terms is a great place to start. ⁠
⁠
Check out our review “A better way to talk about grammar(s)” at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/A-better-way-to-talk-about-grammars to learn (lots) more and earn 11 DEI CE minutes. Then head to the comments to share your thoughts and your preferred inclusive and accurate grammar terms!⁠
⁠
The research: https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_ajslp-25-00202⁠
⁠
[Visual description: "It’s time to update how we talk about English grammar(s). Inclusive and precise terms matter. Let’s learn together. For example, when describing habitual “be” or multi-functional “ain’t” let’s... Consider calling it a dialect-specific overt form instead of the deficit-based grammatical error or nonstandard form. Likewise, we can call the past tense verb in “Yesterday he walk to school”... A “syntactically rich zero form” instead of overlooking context and labeling it as an omission, deletion, or vernacular form. Check out our research review to find: More definitions and examples of inclusive grammar terms, Tips and links for completing functional comprehensive evaluations, and Opportunities for self-reflection on how we view dialect diversity. Join us in doing better, together. Visit the link in caption to learn more and share your preferred terms in the comments!"]

03/09/2026

SLPs know that every oral structure plays a part in feeding and swallowing (in theory) but how many of us know exactly what goes down when a kid's tonsils and adenoids are (en)larged and in charge?

Check out the newest addition to our Ask TISLP series, “Post-op popsicles: The research on tonsils, adenoids, and feeding” to get answers to questions like:

-How can tonsils and adenoids really affect feeding?

-What happens after surgical intervention, and could it make feeding worse?

-What’s an SLP to do about all of it?

Read it at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/Post-op-popsicles-The-research-on-tonsils-adenoids-and-feeding to learn all about it, earn 12 minutes of CE credit, and feel way more prepared to do more for your kids with enlarged tonsils and adenoids (besides providing popsicles, of course).

[Visual description: Image text reads, "Want to know if tonsils and adenoids really affect feeding? Let’s open up, say “Ah,” and Ask TISLP."]

03/05/2026

Is your name on our draw list for the CE challenge? Let’s do a quick check:

- Do you have a TISLP membership?
- Have you opted in for our CE Challenge?
- Have you logged 3 hours of CE?

If yes, yes, and yes—congrats, you’re officially in the running!

If not, it’s time to get moving. You have until April 1st to knock out those 3 hours to be eligible for the Book of the Month Club and Awesome Socks Club subscriptions.

And no, this isn't an April Fools’ prank—we value your clinical sanity too much for that.

[Visual description: Image text reads, "Are you in the CHALLENGE draw? To enter, just log 3 hours of CE with your TISLP membership by April 1st for a chance to win: A Book of the Month Club Subscription & An Awesome Socks Club Subscription". Cartoon image of a pile of books and a pair of socks.]

The Informed SLP

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