Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation
Swallowing disorders can impact lung health, longevity, energy availability, and participation in many of life’s typical activities. Trudi has worked closely with dieticians, physicians, and patients to provide rehabilitation for swallowing disorders, counseling on use of enteral nutrition (PEG/Tube feeding), lung and airway patency, preventing aspiration pneumonia, returning to eating after injury or illness, and guidance on managing intake as safely as possible to promote the highest quality of life for you and your family. A person may have dysphagia following acute or chronic illness, congenital disorders, neurological or neurodegenerative disorders, ALS/Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, strokes, brain injuries, cancer, etc. Trudi has provided this service since 2016.
Trudi is specialized in lymphedema management, myofascial release, prophylactic and rehabilitative swallowing and voice management before, during, and after head and neck cancer treatment(s). Trudi is a Certified Oncology Rehabilitation and Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation Specialist and obtained her training through the Physiological Oncological Rehabilitation Institute. She is passionate about assisting patient return to their highest possible quality of life during and following the devastating impact of a head and neck cancer diagnosis. She can help you manage the impact of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, voice prosthetics, total laryngectomy, tracheostomy valves, and chemo-brain related cognitive dysfunction related to any other cancer diagnosis with significant chemotherapy courses. Trudi has been providing specialized care for this population since 2020.
Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)
Swallowing disorders can impact lung health, longevity, energy availability, and participation in many of life’s typical activities. Trudi has worked closely with dieticians, physicians, and patients to provide rehabilitation for swallowing disorders, counseling on use of enteral nutrition (PEG/Tube feeding), lung and airway patency, preventing aspiration pneumonia, returning to eating after injury or illness, and guidance on managing intake as safely as possible to promote the highest quality of life for you and your family. A person may have dysphagia following acute or chronic illness, congenital disorders, neurological or neurodegenerative disorders, ALS/Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, strokes, brain injuries, cancer, etc. Trudi has provided this service since 2016.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD), also known as paradoxical vocal cord movement (PVFM) or sports-induced asthma, impacts many high-achieving persons and causes the patient to feel short of breath and renders them unable to complete their typical competition, training, or even daily life activities. Trudi has specialized training in rehabilitation for this condition to get you back to your athletic endeavors, working, and communicating with relief and power over your vocal cord disfunction. Trudi will work closely with your physician and allergist or pulmonologist to ensure the course of treatment is safe and appropriate for you. Trudi has specialized in this are since 2016.
Gender Affirmation Voice Habilitation
Transitioning can include many avenues of healthcare involvement. With gender affirmation therapy, Trudi attends to each individual person with care and a holistic vocal coaching approach. In this approach, Trudi utilizes specific voicing techniques and strategies to empower each patient to feel fully themselves. She has been working in this area of practice since 2019 for patients across the state of Montana.
Neurodegenerative Disorders/Diseases: Parkinsons, Dementia
Trudi provides rehabilitative and habilitative therapy for patients with neurodegenerative disorders which can include disfunction of memory, personality, communication, voicing, language (aphasia), swallowing (dysphagia), and other serious symptoms which severely impact a person’s ability to interact with their families, friends, and community. Contact us to see how speech language pathology services can help you continue to engage with your preferred activities and community for as long as possible.
Neurodivergence
Patients with ADHD may experience difficulty maintaining a schedule, paying bills, communicating effectively with others, and with other executive function and prospective planning which can impact their relationships, engagement with community and work, and self-care. Trudi has extensive education and experience with ADHD rehabilitation and habilitation and had formal training since 2021.
Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury
Trudi has worked in concussion and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation since 2017, working closely with the Montana Brain Injury Association and healthcare providers in the state and Missoula to provide a holistic, team approach to brain injury rehabilitation. Trudi is passionate about helping you recover and return to sports, life, work, family, and recreational pursuits as soon as possible. She utilizes evidence-based rehabilitation practices and keeps up with the latest research and techniques to encourage the most effective neuroplasticity techniques possible.
CVA/Stroke/Neurorehabilitation
Neurorehabilitation with speech language pathology can include swallowing, voice, communication, aphasia, dysarthria, social language rehabilitation, and alternative augmentative communication (AAC). Trudi has been working with this population since 2016 and enjoys providing a creative and evidence-based approach to your neurorehabilitation needs.
Stuttering/disfluency
Stuttering or disfluency disorders are typically congenital or genetic and while research is continuously done to expand our understanding of this phenomenon, the functional impact of it can change the course of a person’s communication and life. Trudi has been providing stuttering/disfluency rehabilitation services for young adults and adults since 2016 and is passionate about helping people improve their perception of themselves, increase their communication skills, and improve their fluency in all areas of their lives.
Professional Communication Performance Strengthening
Trudi has leadership and professional development training from the Brene Brown Dare to Lead Program and can provide you and your team with professional communication education and feedback to improve your engagement with your employees and increase the productivity of your team. Trudi can assist you with public speaking, written and email communication, and purpose driven communication in group, one-on-one, and executive meetings. Learn to be brief, kind, and improve open communication between your team members, peers, employees, and yourself to expand the opportunities of your business .