Marissa Yamada MA, CCC-SLP 
What is Aphasia? Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder due to brain damage that impacts one’s ability to comprehend and express language. While aphasia is often known to influence verbal language, it can concurrently impact one’s reading and writing ability. Aphasia can affect people of all ages and is most often a result of a … Read more
Developmental milestones are a helpful and informative way to determine if your child is developing as expected. In our past blog posts, we explored important developmental milestones for children from birth to 1 year old and 2 to 3 years old. In this article, we will further explore the developmental milestones for children ages 4 to … Read more
What is Parkinson’s Disease? Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively impacts one’s ability to walk, talk, and swallow due to changes of dopamine levels in the brain. Due to cell death in the basal ganglia region, dopamine levels decrease and cause a myriad of symptoms. While each individual may experience a varying degree … Read more
Picture this. You are excited to share your recent trip to Broadway with your family after seeing the musical, Hamilton. While you are trying to explain the plot of the play and your favorite parts, you notice that you are having difficulty communicating your main points. You find yourself looking for the right words to … Read more
You just received a referral from your pediatrician for concerns about a speech and language delay. You might feel concerned about what the first session might look like and if there is anything you need to bring with you. This article will review what an evaluation process looks like and what to expect. Speech and … Read more
Developmental milestones are a helpful and informative way to determine if your child is developing as expected. As a parent, it can be overwhelming and difficult to gauge what your child should be able to do and by when. In fact, it can be discouraging when you see same-aged peers developing at a different rate. … Read more
With aging, many people experience changes with their body. While most think of more wrinkles and more weakness in the overall body mass and tone, one’s voice may also encounter similar changes. With the overall population living for longer durations, it is common for many adults to experience age-related voice changes. Some changes include a … Read more
Your child is 2 years old and you’ve noticed that your little one is not talking as much compared to their peers. Your child may be able to verbalize a couple of words but does not demonstrate fluent speech. Is this a sign of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Not necessarily. While many parents of … Read more
Have you noticed a constant ringing or buzzing in your ears? If so, you may be experiencing tinnitus. According to American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), 1/3 of all adults experience tinnitus throughout their lives with 1 in 10 people stating that tinnitus has significantly impacted their quality of life. What is Tinnitus? According to … Read more
Communication involves different processes that allow us to take in and express information about our thoughts, feelings, and attitudes on the world around us. Communication allows us to develop strong relationships with co-workers, friends, and family members. More specifically, communication involves: Listening to the context of a conversation Comprehension of the words spoken to you … Read more