Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences- Purdue University

Two days at the Purdue Women’s Conference finished strong!🖤💛

Our administrative staff from Purdue SLHS spent Wednesday and Thursday connecting with colleagues, hearing powerful stories, and taking in ideas that will stick long after the conference ended.

From keynote sessions to the conversations in between, there was a lot to learn—and even more to carry forward.

Grateful for the conversations, the insights, and the time spent with this amazing community of women.

If you’ve only seen Purdue during a busy week, summer offers a different version.

Quieter paths, longer evenings, and a campus that still holds your attention.

Following HOSA International, we’re reflecting on a week of conversations with future health professionals.

Shannon Van Hyfte (Director of Clinical Education in Audiology) partnered with ASHA to introduce high school students to careers in audiology and speech-language pathology—answering questions, sharing experiences, and helping students understand what these paths look like in practice.

For many, it was a first look at the field. For others, it brought their goals into focus.

Father’s Day looks different for every family.

We’re grateful for the ones who show up, listen, and help keep communication going—every day.

June 19 marks Juneteenth—a day that recognizes freedom, resilience, and the ongoing work of equity in our communities.

In Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, we’re reminded that access to communication is part of that work. Every voice matters. Every story deserves to be heard and understood.

Today is a moment to reflect, learn, and continue building a field—and a future—where all people are supported in communicating fully.

🍉Today is International Picnic Day and a picnic is a great reminder of how complex swallowing really is.

Chewing, timing, muscle coordination, and airway protection all have to work together. Our clinicians help clients learn safe swallowing strategies that support nutrition and quality of life.

Every bite involves science.🖤💛

Supporting people with aphasia doesn’t require special training—just awareness.

Small changes can make a big difference:
• Give extra time to respond
• Avoid finishing sentences
• Reduce background noise when possible
• Be patient and present

Aphasia Awareness Month reminds us that communication is shared work. When we adjust how we listen, we make space for more voices.

🏳️‍🌈Pride Month is a reminder that communication and care should work for everyone!

In speech, language, and hearing sciences, that means listening to lived experiences, creating inclusive clinical spaces, and supporting each individual’s right to be seen and understood.

We’re proud to be part of a community that values respect, equity, and belonging—for our students, our colleagues, and the people we serve.
https://www.purdue.edu/lgbtq/index.php

Play is serious work in pediatric speech therapy.

Through games, toys, and interaction, speech language pathologists help children build language, social, and cognitive skills in ways that feel natural and motivating.

Learning happens best when kids are having fun.

Communication doesn’t always rely on spoken words.

For people with aphasia, communication may include gestures, writing, drawing, pictures, or technology. These supports don’t replace communication—they support it.

At Purdue SLHS, students learn how to recognize and respect different communication styles so that everyone has a way to participate, connect, and be heard.

There’s more than one way to have a conversation.