TalkTools has been re-approved by the Continuing Education Board (CEB) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to offer continuing education activities for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. The approval period is five years, January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2022. 

In order to achieve ASHA Approved CE Provider status, TalkTools completed a rigorous application process and successfully demonstrated adherence to the ASHA Continuing Education Board standards that focus on the design, development, administration, and evaluation of its continuing education courses offered for audiologists and speech-language pathologists. The re-approval process involved the review of all courses offered by TalkTools in the past five year period and their on-going adherence to ASHA CEB standards. As a result of re-approval, TalkTools agreed to continue their compliance with ASHA CEB standards and can continue to promote their organization and courses using the ASHA CE logo on promotional course material. In addition, TalkTools is listed on the ASHA CEB's Approved CE Provider list and their courses that meet CEB standards appear in ASHA CEFind on the ASHA website at www.asha.org/CEFind.

About TalkTools
TalkTools was created to provide the best Oral Placement Therapy techniques, training and products to clients, therapists and parents. OPT uses a hierarchical approach to improve speech clarity and feeding skills in individuals of all ages and across diagnoses. It adds a tactile component to traditional speech therapy, enabling clients to feel the movements necessary for the development of their skills. It involves the use of therapy tools to train and transition muscle movements for speech production. Tools like the Horn and Straw Hierarchies and Jaw Grading Bite Blocks are now household names in the oral placement field. Leader in the industry for 30 years, TalkTools has positioned itself as the authoritative worldwide source for oral placement, sensory, and feeding therapy supplies. Continuing Education being one of our main missions, we hold many hands-on workshops around the world, we offer live webinars as well as self-study programs with the objective to train more therapists being able to positively impact the lives of their clients. Over 4,000 participants are trained every year.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 191,500 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Continuing Education Board (CEB)
The ASHA CEB supports and facilitates professional development by assisting individuals in the management of lifelong learning; encouraging the availability of quality, relevant CE opportunities through its network of ASHA Approved Continuing Education Providers; and recognizing individual accomplishments in CE with the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE).

We look forward to meeting you at ASHA! Meet us at booth #1234 this Thursday until Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Here is why you should visit:

1. Meet TalkTools stars in person

Meet TalkTools Instructors in person at the booth and at their presentations:

• "Functional Assessment of Feeding Challenges in Children with Ankyloglossia" by Lori Overland, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, CLC (presenting) & Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP (not presenting)

Location: CC/West Hall A
Date: Saturday, Nov 11 11:00 AM
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Session Code: 9292
Board Number: 584

Abstract: "Presentation explores 1) current classification systems for ankyloglossia; 2) functional assessment of ankyloglossia; 3) oral sensory-motor feeding challenges associated with ankyloglossia and 4) implications for treatment."

Learner Outcomes: 1) Participants will have an improved understanding of ankyloglossia; 2) Participants will have an improved understanding of a structural assessment for ankyloglossia; 3) Participants will have an improved understanding of a functional assessment for ankyloglossia.

• "Mouth & Airway Development: Disorders, Assessment & Treatment (Birth-Age 7)" by Diane Bahr, MS, CCC-SLP, CIMI & Kristie Gatto MA, CCC-SLP, COM

Location: CC/502B (Lvl 2)
Date: Saturday, Nov 11 2:30 PM
Session Format: Seminar 1-hour
Session Code: 1759

Abstract: "Currently, there is an increasing body of literature regarding mouth and airway development, function, disorders, assessment, and treatment (over 200 journal articles/resources reviewed). This emanates from variety of disciplines and researchers around the globe. The session focuses on the best available evidence for prevention, elimination, and habilitation of mouth and concomitant airway problems in children birth to age 7. These issues significantly impact the speech-language pathologist’s treatment of feeding, speech, and mouth function."

Learner Outcomes: 1) Discuss the current research literature on mouth and airway development, function, disorders, assessment, and treatment; 2) Describe typical mouth and airway development/function and explain disruptions in mouth and airway development/function; 3) Describe and explain assessment and treatment of disruptions in mouth and airway development/function.

Renee Roy Hill, MS, CCC-SLP and Heather Vukelich, MS, CCC-SLP will be available at the booth too!

2. Get lucky

Win a FITBIT CHARGE 2! Simply visit booth #1234 and have your badge scanned to enter the raffle.

3. Play and win BIG

TalkTools is a proud ASHA Mobile Adventure Sponsor! Register here, then visit all 10 booths and correctly answer all 10 trivia questions for a chance to win $500 gift cards.

4. Shop!!!

Save 20% & free shipping on everything TalkTools when you order at the convention.

5. See all therapy tools for real

Tired of browsing through all famous TalkTools products online or on your paper catalog? Find all TalkTools’ signature tools, such as Horn Kit, Straw Kit, Honey Bear and more at booth #1234. Handle them, try them, and have your therapy questions answered by TalkTools staff.

Congratulations to TalkTools® Instructor Jennifer Jones, who became this weekend one of only 2 SLPs in the world with the credentials: PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, C/NDT!

What does this all mean?

A PhD (the abbreviation for the Latin "Philosophiæ Doctor", literally, Doctor of Philosophy) is the holder of a doctor's degree, which is the highest university degree. This degree rewards substantial contributions to a discipline by published work. It was originally granted to middle age individuals who had demonstrated a productive career in Philosophy. Holders of a PhD have lead an original research documented by substantial dissertation. This degree is often required to be hired as a university lecturer or a researcher in some sciences, although this varies from place to place.

A CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist who is "certified": who has earned an ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Certificate of Clinical Competence in the field of Speech-Language Pathology. It is a professional credential that is nationally recognized and that represents a level of excellence. As ASHA puts it, "those who have achieved the CCC ASHA certification have voluntarily met rigorous academic and professional standards, typically going beyond the minimum requirements for state licensure. They have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide high quality clinical services, and they actively engage in ongoing professional development to keep their certification current."

A BCS-S is a Board Certified Specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders, also called Dysphagia. A BCS-S maintains high-level skills and clinical experience in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders. Thanks to continuing training, a BCS-S knows the latest clinical approaches and can most effectively and efficiently evaluate and treat individuals with swallowing disorders.  As the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders puts it, "the BCS-S specialist provides appropriate, evidence-based treatment techniques to address the swallowing problem(s) of each individual, based upon the comprehensive swallowing assessment."

A C/NDT is a Certified Neuro-Developmental Therapist, who has been certified by the NDTA™ (Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association). As the NDTA™ puts it, "NDT is a holistic and interdisciplinary clinical practice model informed by current and evolving research that emphasizes individualized therapeutic handling based on movement analysis for habilitation and rehabilitation of individuals with neurological pathophysiology." This certification is one of the most prestigious in this field as it requires a continuous process of updating knowledge with current NDT theory and practice.

Jennifer is looking forward to her upcoming classes in Puerto Rico on Dec. 4-5 and is glad so many people registered! (In fact, it is sold out ;).) The subjects are "Pediatric Dysphagia: Interpreting the MBSS and Planning Treatment" and "Adult Dysphagia: Interpreting the MBSS and Planning Treatment." Stay tuned for more TalkTools news!

Read articles by Jennifer:

"Why Every SLP Needs to Understand Dysphagia" Jones, J., (2015). TalkTools Blog

"Targeted Treatment: Cranial Nerve Based Assessments" Banotai, A., Jones, J., (2012). http://www.advanceweb.com/

The annual American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention is just around the corner and we are as excited as ever here at TalkTools. The 2015 convention will be in Denver, Colorado, November 12, 13, and 14. We will be there in full force with our tools, techniques, & training all be represented by our expert staff.

TalkTools is scheduled for two presentations and will be hosting a booth in the exhibit hall where you can order at a huge discount and be entered to win several prizes. Our goal this year is to celebrate successes in therapy, be sure you stop by our booth, #417, to share your stories!

We will have all of our signature items on-hand, like the Horn and Straw Hierarchies, the famous Honey Bear, and our Jaw Grading Bite Blocks. These items have become household names in the fields of oral placement, oral motor, sensory, and feeding therapy supplies. These tools, and others, are also why TalkTools® has been an industry leader for over 30 years and is now a worldwide resource for therapy tools, techniques, and training.

When you order our tools while at the convention, you will receive a 20% discount on all items! We will also be providing FREE SHIPPING for anyone who places their order at the booth during the convention. Beyond our array of products on display we will be providing attendees several opportunities to WIN fabulous prizes.

Every visitor to our booth #417 can enter to WIN an Introduction to Oral Placement Therapy Kit ($195 value) and a GoPro Hero+ LCD ($299 value). All you have to do is stop by the booth and have your badge scanned by one of our many associates.

Additionally, we will be providing attendees the opportunity to a WIN $500 Visa gift card! As part of our efforts to celebrate successful therapy we want to hear your success stories. When you provide a one to two minute video testimonial at our booth, you will be automatically entered to win.

You can also take a photo with our six foot celebrity Honey Bear and have a chance to be featured our Facebook page! Use hashtag #iamthehoneybear.

Another reason to stop by our booth is to visit with one of our amazing Speech Language Pathologists! Several of our expert presenters will be on hand throughout the convention to answer your therapy questions and to discuss our Continuing Education opportunities.

TalkTools® offers professional therapists opportunities to learn and train in innovative and solution based therapy techniques. Over 2,000 Speech Language Pathologists attend one of our live workshops every year and many more take advantage of one of our self-study programs. Those interested in advancing their knowledge are invited to participate in the TalkTools® Level Training Program.

Don’t miss an opportunity to see TalkTools founder, Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, present at this year’s convention. Sara will be presenting on two different topics, the first on Thursday and the second, a poster presentation, will be on Saturday.

~ Thursday, November 12 at 1:30 PM Sara will present on the Effects of Limited or Excessive Jaw Mobility During Conversational Speech (Session Number 1080). 

~ Saturday, November 14 at 12:30 PM Sara will present on Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) vs. Non-Speech Oral Motor Exercises (NSOME): Understanding the Debate (Session Number 9333, Poster Board 602). This presentation was co-authored by Robyn Merkel-Walsh. 

We hope to see you in Denver!

We have a very busy schedule this October with speech and feeding therapy workshops across the U.S. Our 1 and 2 day hands-on courses cover a variety of diagnoses including Down syndrome, Apraxia of Speech, Dysphagia, Autism (ASD), and Dyspraxia among others. Therapy techniques that improve speech and feeding by focusing on abdominal grading, tongue mobility, lip rounding, and jaw strength, stability and grading are demonstrated.

Detailed workshop information and registration is available here. Earn CEUs, impress your clients, and take your therapy to the next level with TalkTools® Oral Placement Therapy!