Why does it feel like kids forget instructions the moment they hear them? In this episode of More Than Words, host Tristen is joined by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Erika Madison to unpack how executive function plays a critical role in memory. Rather than being a true “memory problem,” many everyday struggles with forgetting directions, losing materials, or blanking on tests are rooted in how the brain organizes, holds, and retrieves information.

Dr. Madison breaks down executive function in clear, relatable terms and explains how skills like attention, working memory, organization, and planning directly impact learning and recall. Together, they explore why memory demands increase as children get older and share practical, realistic strategies parents and educators can use to reduce memory load and better support kids at home and school.

What You’ll Learn

• What executive function is and why it acts like the brain’s “CEO”
• How working memory supports learning and following directions in real time
• Why kids can seem to “know it yesterday” but forget it during tests
• How executive function challenges can look like memory problems
• Why memory demands increase as academic tasks become more complex
• How organization and planning affect memory retrieval
• Practical strategies to reduce memory load and support executive functioning

About Dr. Erika Madison Dr. Erika Madison, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at MindWell Psychology, where she specializes in comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. Her clinical focus includes executive functioning, attention, learning differences, ADHD, autism, and emotional regulation. Dr. Madison is known for helping families understand the “why” behind a child’s learning or behavioral challenges and translating assessment results into clear, actionable recommendations that support success at home and school. With a background that also includes forensic psychology, she brings a deep understanding of cognitive processes and behavior, along with a practical, compassionate approach to care.

Links & Resources

• Learn more about Dr. Erika Madison and MindWell Psychology: https://mindwell.us/

Subscribe, Rate, and Review If this episode helped you see your child’s behavior in a new light, please subscribe, rate, and review More Than Words on your podcast platform. It helps other parents and teachers find tools that make daily life easier.

Connect with RLLC

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

In this episode of More Than Words, we sit down with Madison Brumbaugh, M.S., CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and clinical assistant professor at The George Washington University whose work focuses on supporting individuals with complex communication needs. Madison has experience serving clients across the lifespan and working in public schools, private practice, and home health settings. She holds master’s degrees in Educational Research and Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Translational Health Sciences at GW. Madison is also active in professional leadership and advocacy, including roles with ASHA and state speech-language-hearing associations.

Whether you are new to AAC or have some background, this conversation highlights a fresh and essential perspective: how we can design AAC supports with students, not for them.

Madison breaks down what AAC actually is and what it looks like in real classrooms and therapy settings. From there, we explore how involving students in the design of AAC tools can increase engagement, support literacy, and help learners express themselves more meaningfully across environments.

We also discuss both low-tech and high-tech AAC supports, including visual organizers and personalized digital tools, and how students can help shape these tools to better meet their communication and learning needs. Throughout the conversation, Madison shares practical examples and mindset shifts that educators, therapists, and families can apply right away.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What AAC is and who it can support
• What it means to design AAC supports with students
• Why student involvement matters for meaningful communication
• How students can participate in designing both low-tech and high-tech AAC tools
• The connection between AAC, literacy, and classroom engagement
• Practical steps educators and families can take to center student voice

This episode is ideal for educators, therapists, and caregivers who want to better understand AAC and create communication supports that truly reflect the students using them.

Links and Resources:

• Madison’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-b-b171a9155/
• Madison’s information at George Washington University: Madison Brumbaugh
• About Madison Brumbaugh | DC Speech & Literacy

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

Oral health is about so much more than cavities. In this episode of More Than Words: Treating the Whole Child, Tristen sits down with Dr. Sheyda Maghsoudi, board-certified pediatric dentist and founder of Lansdowne Pediatric Dentistry, to explore how oral structure, airway health, and daily habits influence speech, feeding, sleep, behavior, and learning.

Dr. Maghsoudi explains how tongue position, jaw and palate development, and breathing patterns play a critical role in how children communicate and function at school. She also shares early warning signs families and therapists can watch for, why collaboration between dentists and other specialists, like speech language pathologists, matters, and how personalized, sensory-informed dental care can transform a child’s experience.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that supporting the mouth and airway is a part of supporting the whole child.

What You’ll Learn:

• How oral health connects to speech, feeding, and learning
• Why tongue posture and nasal breathing are critical for development
• Early signs of oral or airway issues, including mouth breathing and picky eating
• How tongue ties can impact function and why team-based care matters
• The importance of collaboration between dentists, SLPs, OTs, and other providers
• How dental care can be adapted for children with sensory sensitivities
• Everyday habits that support healthy jaw, facial, and airway development
• A real-life example of how improving breathing changed a child’s focus and behavior

Dr. Sheyda Maghsoudi is a board-certified pediatric dentist and the founder of Lansdowne Pediatric Dentistry in Lansdowne, Virginia. She takes a whole-child approach to oral health, focusing on how dental development, airway health, and oral function influence speech, feeding, sleep, and learning. Dr. Maghsoudi is passionate about early intervention and interdisciplinary collaboration, working closely with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and other pediatric specialists to support children’s overall development. She is especially known for her compassionate, individualized care for children with sensory sensitivities and neurodiverse needs.

Dr. Maghsoudi’s Practice: https://lansdownepediatricdentistry.com/

Lansdowne’s Phone number: 571-210-2771

Reading & Language Learning Center:

Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

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In this powerful episode, we’re unpacking what Speech-Language Pathologists really know, and wish they knew, about dyslexia. After interviewing dozens of SLPs and graduate students at the 2024 ASHA Convention, we discovered clear themes: misinformation, missing training, personal stories of struggle and resilience, and a deep desire for better tools to support dyslexic learners.

Joined by Susan (RLLC Owner) and Maggie (RLLC Therapist), host Tristen dives into what today’s SLPs are experiencing in the field: everything from misconceptions like “letters flipping” to the reality that most grad programs barely touch structured literacy or dyslexia at all. We explore what this means for families, how SLPs fit into the dyslexia landscape, and why specialized language-based literacy training is more important than ever.

This episode is honest, validating, and packed with insight for parents, educators, and clinicians who want to understand dyslexia through a truly language-based lens.

• The top myths SLPs reported hearing about dyslexia
• Why dyslexia is not a visual issue, but a language-based learning difference
• The nationwide training gap in graduate programs
• Emotional stories from SLPs who personally have dyslexia
• System-level challenges around screening and assessment
• Why SLPs are the right professionals to support dyslexia — when properly trained
• Practical questions SLPs are asking: identification, intervention, evaluation, bilingual learners, and more
• How training, clarity, and a structured literacy framework can transform SLP confidence

If this episode left you thinking, “I want to learn this, I just never got the training.” you’re not alone. And we can help.

RLLC now offers several professional development courses, including:

• Orton–Gillingham Spelling Rules — practical and immediately applicable
• How to Test for Dyslexia — evaluation guidance for SLPs and educators

And coming soon:

Our signature structured literacy training is now IDA Accredited at the Accreditation Plus level, the highest recognition IDA offers. This program provides the tools you need to become a:

• Certified Structured Literacy Teacher
• Structured Literacy Specialist
• Structured Literacy Interventionist

Join the interest list or explore current courses at: 👉 www.readingllcenter.com/professional-development

The Reading & Language Learning Center

Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review as it helps more families and clinicians find this content!

In this episode of More Than Words: Treating the Whole Child, Tristen sits down with Dr. Elizabeth (Lisa) Bennett, clinical psychologist at MindWell Psychology, to explore why many children with ADHD thrive when their days include intentional structure, movement, and supportive scheduling.

Dr. Bennett explains ADHD in accessible language—describing executive function as the brain’s “manager” and using memorable analogies to illustrate both hyperactive and inattentive presentations. Together, she and Tristen unpack the phrase “keep ’em busy,” revealing its neurological basis and how movement, motor activity, and the right “gear” help children regulate and succeed.

The conversation also explores research supporting structured activities, including the well-known Iceland Model, which demonstrated dramatic improvements in teen outcomes when communities increased access to supervised extracurriculars. Dr. Bennett and Tristen discuss what this means for younger children, particularly those with ADHD who benefit from consistent, growth-promoting routines.

Blending research, clinical expertise, and personal reflection—including Dr. Bennett’s experience raising a highly active child—this episode offers compassionate, realistic tools for parents seeking balance between structure and overscheduling, as well as thoughtful guidance for families hesitant about ADHD medication.

• What ADHD truly is and why executive function can be thought of as the brain’s “conductor”
• How understanding your child’s “gear” helps you match activities to their energy and attention needs
• The benefits of structured, supervised activities for children’s regulation, mental health, and safety
• How movement-based programs like Taekwondo, swimming, drumming, and performing arts build confidence and focus
• What research tells us about overscheduling vs. healthy involvement
• How parents can identify signs of burnout or overwhelm when schedules become too demanding
• A compassionate framework for thinking about ADHD medication options
• What to do when the “perfect” schedule falls apart — and how those moments still support growth

Dr. Elizabeth (Lisa) Bennett is a licensed clinical psychologist at MindWell Psychology in Chantilly, Virginia. With a professional background that spans preschool education, school psychology, and clinical psychology, she brings a holistic, whole-child perspective to her work with children and adolescents. Dr. Bennett specializes in ADHD, emotional regulation, developmental support, and helping families understand the individualized needs and strengths of their children. Known for her clear analogies and compassionate approach, she empowers families to create structure, balance, and routines that support healthy development.

MindWell Psychology: https://mindwell.us

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The Reading & Language Learning Center

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

In this episode of More Than Words, Tristen sits down with Kellie Boyle, LPC, founder of Reprocess Therapy, to talk about two powerful, brain-based therapies: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting.

Kellie explains how both methods help children with learning challenges, ADHD, or anxiety quiet the “negative noise,” process early experiences, and build more confident, flexible thinking. She also shares insights on how parents’ own emotions can shape their child’s growth and how staying regulated and self-aware can make all the difference.

• What EMDR and Brainspotting are, and how they work in the brain
• How these therapies help kids reprocess negative self-beliefs
• Signs a child might benefit from EMDR or Brainspotting
• The unique needs of kids and teens with ADHD or learning differences
• How parent anxiety and self-talk can impact a child’s progress
• What a brain-based therapy session looks and feels like for kids
• How parents and professionals can work together to support whole-child growth

Kellie Boyle, LPC, is a licensed therapist and founder of Reprocess Therapy, where she specializes in EMDR and Brainspotting for children, teens, and parents. Her work focuses on helping clients release stuck emotions, reframe negative self-beliefs, and develop clearer, more confident thinking. Kellie frequently supports children with ADHD and learning differences and brings personal insight as a parent of a child diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. She’s passionate about helping families move from reactivity to resilience, one reprocessed thought at a time.

Kellie’s Practice, Reprocess Therapy: https://www.reprocesstherapy.com/

Kellie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reprocess_therapy/

Kellie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-boyle-41aa156/

• RLLC’s Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

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In this episode of More Than Words, host Tristen talks with Susan Danker, co-owner of the Reading and Language Learning Center (RLLC) and co-creator of the Sounds2Print™ Reading Program, which was recently accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).

Susan shares why dyslexia is fundamentally a language-based learning difference, not just a reading issue and how a strong foundation in oral language sets the stage for reading and writing success. Together, they explore what dyslexia looks like long before a child ever begins reading, why speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are uniquely qualified to serve as reading specialists, and how addressing language first is essential for effective literacy intervention.

Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how phonological awareness, vocabulary, and syntax all contribute to reading development and why “language is the soil that reading grows in.”

Topics Covered:

• What dyslexia is and how it affects the brain’s processing of language and print
• Early signs of dyslexia in preschool-aged children
• The critical role of oral language—vocabulary, grammar, and listening—in reading success
• Why speech-language pathologists make exceptional reading specialists
• The importance of phonological awareness as the bridge to literacy
• When children need to strengthen receptive and expressive language before formal reading instruction
• How articulation challenges differ from spelling and decoding difficulties
• Explaining to parents why “strengthening language first” leads to better reading outcomes
• The Sounds2Print™ multisensory reading program and its recent IDA accreditation

About the Guest:

Susan Danker, M.S., CCC-SLP, is the co-owner and co-founder of the Reading and Language Learning Center (RLLC) and co-creator of the Sounds2Print™ Reading Program, recently accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).

A certified speech-language pathologist with more than two decades of experience, Susan specializes in helping children with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences build strong foundations in both oral and written language. At RLLC, she has pioneered approaches that integrate speech-language pathology with structured literacy instruction, empowering SLPs to take the lead in reading intervention.

Susan is passionate about helping professionals and families understand that reading grows out of language and that when we strengthen language first, we give children the foundation they need to become confident, capable readers.

Resources Mentioned:

• International Dyslexia Association – Definition of Dyslexia
• Reading and Language Learning Center
• Sounds2Print™ Reading Program

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center