Nixon Speech and Language, LLC

08/26/2026

In honor of Dolly Parton and to thank her for all the good she has done, donate to her charity The Imagination Library. Giving books to children from birth to 5.

Honoring the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, global icon, humanitarian, and beloved entertainer who inspired generations with her music and kindness.

08/25/2026

💯

08/25/2026

Precisely.

Why are doctors so dismissive, especially towards women with ADHD, who more likely to second-guess or doubt their medical concerns when clinicians invalid…

08/25/2026

This experience is so real - even for those of us who are diagnosed.

I, personally, have even heard information from MDs insisting that people grow out of ADHD...while I'm explaining how I notice differences in my ability to focus with and without medication. Statements like "You should be able to use your strategies without medication by now"...

Despite me showing them the science that says that ADHD doesn't just "go away".

I've even gotten the "I don't think you have ADHD" from professors when I focused in the manner they expected and showed up overly organized to their office...

But what they didn't see was the amount of time and energy it took for me to organize the information....or the times I zoned out and threw my clean socks in the trash or the times I wrote what others said or the times I couldn't focus to math...or the thoughts racing through my brain...

And they didn't see that all those strategies I used were designed to provide external organization to my internal chaos.

Don't underestimate the impact of ADHD on a person's life.

Medical gaslighting, when doctors dismiss symptoms of ADHD, is caused by lack of knowledge, bias, or confusion with co-occurring conditions. Learn how to …

08/17/2026

08/16/2026

It’s been a while since Words Have Weight: Part 2, but the silence wasn't empty—I’ve been working behind the scenes on Part 3.

This next chapter dives headfirst into a phenomenon far too many patients live through, yet rarely have the language to name: Epistemic Injustice.

What is Epistemic Injustice? Coined by philosopher Miranda Fricker, it occurs when someone is wronged specifically in their capacity as a knower.

In healthcare, it looks like this: A patient brings hard facts, medical history, and lived knowledge of their own body to an appointment—only for that physical reality to be dismissed, minimized, or overwritten by a quick psychological label ("it's just stress/anxiety").

Part 3 uses narrative art and graphic illustration—built directly from my real medical records—to trace what happens when clinical blindness overrides objective data.

Because I’m stepping offline briefly for medical care soon, the entire series is will drop over the coming weeks.

Have you ever felt your physical symptoms were written off as 'just anxiety'? Let's talk about it in the comments.



⚖️ Rights & Attribution: Words Have Weight (Part 3) is an original narrative art project by Stephanie M. Nixon, PhD, CCC-SLP, based on lived experience. Names and places are fictionalized for privacy.

Sharing Terms: Feel free to repost intact with full credit and link back. No edits, modifications, or commercial use. AI tools were used under my strict narrative direction to visualize my medical records. Full disclosure & blog link in bio.

08/04/2026

When documenting the "ROS (Review of Symptoms)", it would be amazing if providers .. Only documented symptoms they asked the patient about as present/absent .. Documented all symptoms discussed .. Avoided minimizing the patient's symptoms .. Ensured the information was consistent with the HPI and existing diagnoses

And with the HPI ... Document what is in the record AND what the patient actually said. e.g., If a patient says a symptom worsened after a procedure, then don't say it persisted say it worsened. If a patient says pain in a region is between 6-8, don't say "some". Some doesn't express the significance especially if the patient notes the pain is making it hard to engage in an activity.

What sort of medical note errors have you seen?

07/13/2026

Raise your hand if you’re tired of playing "medical records detective." 🙋‍♀️

Living with a complex chronic illness means you’re essentially running an unpaid medical accounting firm just to get the care you need. Between tracking symptoms, syncing five different hospital portals, and filling out disability paperwork, it’s exhausting.

I’ve finally found a tool that handles the load. I’ve written up a full review of how I use Guava Health to manage my "spoon" budget, track meds, and even organize my tax/disability paperwork.

It’s not just a tracker; it’s a command center.

What I love most:

✅ It listens: I can speak to the AI in the ER to help explain lab results so I know what to ask the doctor.

✅ It saves me hours: No more hunting through portals for dates/fax numbers for disability claims.

✅ It’s safe: They don’t sell your data (which was non-negotiable for me).

If you’re drowning in medical paperwork, this might be the peace of mind you need. Read my full breakdown here: https://nixonspeechandlanguage.com/review-guava-health-the-ultimate-spoonie-command-center/

Guava Health

Review: Guava Health: The Ultimate “Spoonie” Command Center Written by Stephanie M. Nixon, PhD, CCC-SLP on July 13, 2026. Posted in Apps, Guava Health, Health care, Navigating health care, Patient Advocacy, Patient communication. Reviewer Profile: Complex chronic illness patient juggling multipl...

07/03/2026

I tried bifocals and got way too dizzy. (Not even progressive ones just old school.). So now....2 pairs of glasses one for reading and one for distance.

But does health insurance cover my glasses or contacts? No. Does vision insurance cover 2 pairs of glasses in a year? No. Do they cover one pair + contacts? No.

And my prescription is too high for Costco (I checked). I use Apex Optical in Bethesda for my glasses. Never a problem! But the cost of my glasses is definitely high but worth to have a functional pair. And my vision insurance only reimbursed $155.... When the lenses alone are wayyyy more than that

To me it seems odd and absolutely wrong that glasses and contacts aren't covered...as they are medically necessary.

06/21/2026

The board flipping is real. Over a week ago I received an automated message that a pre-op appointment for my upcoming spine surgery was cancelled.

I immediately called the surgeon's office, and learned that not only was it cancelled it sounded like the provider may need a colleague to take over my procedure. I was supposed to receive a call back, which still hasn't come.

When we talk about telling a patient to be more flexible, this is one of the most glaring issues I'm experiencing right now. I understand the amount of time each case takes providers. I understand I'm not the only patient affected in this specific instance, but I don't think anyone would mean I wait more than 5 days without any custom response from the provider or the office about this level of shift.

And my guess is that other neurodivergent patients are in the same boat as me - we don't always know when we have become "too flexible" and what is the point at which we say - "No. We deserve at least some answers now or at minimum a timeframe for those answers".

When the board flips: Paddle boarding through choppy waters Written by Stephanie M. Nixon, PhD, CCC-SLP on March 19, 2026. Posted in Chronic illness, Neurodivergence. 🚨 TL;DR: The “Paddle Boarder’s Guide to Surviving the Medical System” The Problem: For neurodivergent and chronically ill pe...