About me

Hi! I'm Leiah. My path to becoming a speech-language pathologist (SLP) wasn't totally linear. I had always pictured myself working in some area of health care, for I am a natural advocate for others. It wasn't until I had combined my other academic interests (learning about other languages and cultures) that I was encouraged to consider working as an SLP. After serving most of my undergraduate career as a research assistant in the Speech Perception & Language Development Lab, and continuing coursework abroad in Spain and Australia, I realized that this field was the best combination of my interests and skills! I am a bilingual English-Spanish clinician trained in a variety of areas. I am trained in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding and have taken workshops regarding Pediatric Feeding Disorder through Feeding Matters. In addition, I have expertise in conducting both adult and pediatric Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS), and am trained in MBSimP. Apart from the domain of feeding and swallowing, I am also trained in the Social Thinking Curriculum, have taken courses in Voice Disorder Management and Vocal Fold Dysfunction, and have acute experience with cognitive-communication rehabilitation. I have worked in settings such as both pediatric and adult outpatient clinics and a sub-acute inpatient hospital specializing in brain and spinal cord injury. I served as an inpatient therapist in pediatric hospitals and have experience within the K-12 school system. I would describe my clinical style as client-centered, functional, individualized/personalized, strengths-based, and rooted in client empowerment to create self-advocates.