By Angela Ruiz, MS, CCC-SLP When we think about heart health, we often think about blood pressure, cholesterol, and preventing heart attacks. But your heart does far more than keep blood moving — it protects your brain, your ability to think clearly, and even your ability to swallow safely. As a medical Speech-Language Pathologist, I see firsthand how cardiovascular disease impacts cognition, communication, and swallowing. Understanding this connection can empower you (or you

⸻ When we think about dementia, it’s easy to feel like there isn’t much we can do. But research tells us something encouraging—our daily choices can make a real difference in protecting brain health. While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, we do know that certain habits lower risk and support stronger, healthier brains over time. That’s where SHIELD comes in. SHIELD stands for Sleep, Head Injury Prevention, Exercise, Learning, and Diet. These five building blocks

“Every bloom begins with unseen growth. Thank you for your patience as Angela Ruiz SLP Services grows to better serve our community.” 🌺

Sleep is often one of the first things disrupted—and one of the most overlooked tools for healing—in people living with Parkinson’s disease. While medications and therapy play critical roles, sleep is where the brain does some of its most important “behind-the-scenes” work. Think of it as a nightly reset—one that becomes even more essential when the brain is navigating a neurodegenerative condition. The Brain’s Nightly Reset: More Than Just Rest During sleep, the brain isn’t

A guide for patients and families who want to understand the expertise behind the care. Angela Ruiz SLP Services • Patient & Family Resource Who Is Your Speech-Language Pathologist — and What Did It Take to Become One? If you or someone you love has been referred to a speech-language pathologist (SLP), you might be wondering: who exactly is this person, and what kind of training do they have? That's a great question — and the answer might surprise you. Becoming an SLP req

Alzheimer’s disease affects far more than memory. As the disease progresses, many patients experience increasing difficulty with basic bodily functions—most notably bowel movements and urination. Constipation, urinary retention, and incontinence are common and often misunderstood complications that can significantly impact comfort, dignity, and overall health. Understanding why these issues occur and how to prevent complications through structured care, environmental support,

By a Therapist by Day and a Caregiver by Night By day, I am a therapist—trained to assess, document, treat, measure outcomes, and discharge. I speak the language of goals, functional gains, evidence-based practice, and reimbursement. By night, I am a caregiver to a family member with dementia—managing medications, redirecting behaviors, navigating emotional loss, and living in the reality that progress is often nonlinear or nonexistent. Living in both worlds has shown me a po

Recently there has been growing discussion about terminology shifts tied to student loans and federal descriptions of rehabilitation professionals. While some may view these changes as simple semantics, the impact is far deeper and far more concerning. The language being used reflects a blatant lack of respect for our fields—and the consequences could permanently alter how Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists are recognized, reimburse

When actor Bruce Willis shared his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the news created an immediate surge in awareness....

As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I’ve asked myself this question more times than I can count: 👉 Why are SLPs so deeply...

If you’ve ever felt like food or liquid “gets stuck,” coughed or choked during meals, or avoided certain foods because they’re hard to...

June 8, 2024: Today was an amazing day. A completely fulfilling experience for me professionally and personally. As a Speech-Language...