 | alaska speech-language hearing association |
Meet our 2025 AKSHA Convention Speakers! |
Suzan Hess, MS, CCC-SLP Disclosures: None
Ashley Earp, AuD Disclosures: None | Working in Rural Alaska: Challenges, Strategies and Successes for Speech Language and Hearing Professionals (1 hour Saturday, .1 ASHA CEUs) This course explores the unique opportunities and challenges of providing speech, language and audiology services in rural Alaska. Participants will learn about cultural considerations, service models, use of telepractice and strategies for building relationships in remote village Learner Outcomes After completing this course, participants will be able to: 1. Identify at least three challenges specific to providing speech language and audiology services in rural Alaska 2. Describe culturally responsive strategies for assessment and treatment working within Alaska Native communities. 3. Compare in person and telepractice models of service delivery in remote villages. 4. Apply at least two practical approaches to building trust and sustainability in rural practice settings. More about Suzan Hess… Suzan Hess M.S. CCC-SLP was born and raised in Western Kansas. She first moved to Alaska in 1996 to work in the Sitka Infant Learning Program. She returned to Kansas and obtained her M.S. in Speech Language Pathology in 2000. Since then, she has worked in a variety of settings including Hospital, Early Intervention, Neurodevelopmental Clinic and Schools. She currently works at Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, Alaska serving individuals across the lifespan in Nome and the surrounding region. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, friends, beach combing for treasures, hiking, picking berries, reading, spending time at camp and just soaking up the beauty of Alaska. More about Ashley Earp… Ashley Earp, Au.D, is the Director of Audiology at Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, Alaska. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree and then Doctor of Audiology degree at the University of Utah, graduating in 2021. She is currently in the Master of Public Health program at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is passionate about expanding access to quality hearing healthcare in rural Alaska. She loves providing the whole spectrum of audiology services including aural rehabilitation, implants, ADP testing, vestibular testing, and telehealth. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family, read, go to the gym, and play roller derby! |
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Taryn Townsend, SLPD, CCC-SLP, CBIS Disclosures: Dr. Townsend is receiving an honorarium for her presentation. She is a salaried employee of Texas Children’s Hospital; University of Houston; & Collage Rehabilitation Partners and Memorial Hermann Hospital System. She is a committee member of the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing; ASHA SIG 2 Programming Committee; & the Brain Injury Association of America Fundamental Committee. She is an invited speaker for the ASHA 2025 Convention. She is also a member of the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association, and the Academy of Neurological Communication Disorders and Sciences. More about Dr. Townsend… Taryn E. Townsend, SLPD, CCC-SLP, CBIS is an accomplished Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist with over a decade of experience supporting medically complex pediatric and adult patients across multiple settings. She currently practices as an advanced clinical specialist in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital and serves as a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Houston, where she teaches future clinicians about acquired cognitive-communication disorders and fosters the next generation of speech-language pathologists. Dr. Townsend holds a deep clinical and research interest in pediatric acquired brain injury and the critical roles of cognition, communication, and swallowing rehabilitation throughout prolonged pediatric hospitalizations. Her expertise has earned her opportunities to present at national and international conferences, where she speaks passionately about evidence-based care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the real-world challenges faced by clinicians working in high-acuity pediatric settings. Her dedication extends beyond the bedside—she is an advocate, mentor, and educator committed to improving systems of care for children with acquired brain injuries and complex medical needs. | From ICU to IEP: What the Hospital SLP Wants You to Know About Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (3 hours Saturday and 3 hours Sunday, total of .6 ASHA CEUs) Children with acquired brain injuries often travel a complex path from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to the classroom, and along the way, their cognitive-communication and swallowing needs evolve—sometimes dramatically. This course bridges the gap between acute care and educational settings by offering insights from the hospital-based speech-language pathologist (SLP) with a focus on acquired cognitive-communication needs. Cognitive deficits have been considered the most unmet need post-pTBI hospitalization (Slomine et al., 2006). While there is evidence supporting early physical therapy to improve mobility outcomes for this population, there is limited research in other rehabilitation areas, specifically for cognitive-communicative assessment and treatment in speech-language pathology (Walker & Kudchadkar, 2018). Participants will learn what happens during early stages of recovery from the PICU and inpatient rehab, how these early observations can inform long-term needs, and what critical information should be gathered and shared to ensure continuity of care. Through real-world case studies, attendees will explore the unique profiles of children recovering from traumatic brain injury, stroke, and brain tumors. The course will highlight the hospital SLP’s role in evidence-based assessment/intervention, discharge planning, and IEP transition support, while also offering practical tools for school-based SLPs, educators, and care teams to better advocate for and support these students. Whether you work in medical, educational, or community settings, this session will better your knowledge of brain injury and its clinical trajectory, interpret medical documentation, and implement trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate supports for students navigating the lasting effects of brain injury. Learner Outcomes After completing this course, participants will be able to: 1.Differentiate the stages of the brain injury recovery trajectory 2.Describe at least three formal screening/assessment tools appropriate for pABI related to cognitive-communication 3.Summarize the state of the evidence regarding current practices, guidelines, and interventions in early rehabilitation related to cognitive-communication in pABI, from intensive care to rehab and the educational setting 4.Interpret how brain injuries impacts school participation and learning, using real-world case examples to illustrate the long-term needs that may arise 5.Recognize the critical elements of effective handoffs and Return-to-School (RTS) models between medical and educational teams, including what information should be shared and how to advocate for continuity of care |
Doug Petersen, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL Disclosures: Dr. Petersen is Vice President of Research at Language Dynamics Group which publishes and disseminates many of his research products. He receives compensation from the sales of those products.
Alisa Konishi Therkildsen, PhD, CCC-SLP Disclosures: Dr. Therkildsen receives a salary from the University of Alaska Anchorage as well as royalties from the Language Dynamics Group for the DYMOND assessment. |
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