Twelve Stars Bilingual Speech Therapy, LLC

03/27/2026

03/26/2026

Discover how two SLPs used the lessons they learned from their years of practice in Puerto Rico to provide dysphagia and feeding services to communities once they relocated to Mesa, Arizona.

Although the settings are different, they saw how families in both areas navigate transportation, food availability, financial strain, and other social determinants of health in ways that impact access to care.

Read "Smells From the Kitchen, Lessons From the Field, Part 2: Creative Connections in Dysphagia Care" in The Leader: https://at.asha.org/Xt

03/24/2026

DID YOU KNOW..........
👂 March is Hearing Awareness Month
Hearing health is essential for communication, learning, and overall well-being. Globally, more than 1.5 billion people live with some degree of hearing loss, and approximately 430 million people require rehabilitation services for disabling hearing loss.

In regions like the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) — a proudly multicultural and bilingual community — access to hearing care is evolving. Increasingly, hearing clinics and professionals are expanding bilingual (English–Spanish) services to better serve diverse populations.
Research shows that language-concordant healthcare — when patients receive care in their preferred language—improves communication, trust, patient satisfaction, and adherence to treatment. Expanding bilingual hearing services helps reduce barriers to diagnosis and treatment, ensuring more equitable access to hearing healthcare for multicultural communities.

💙 This month, take a moment to prioritize your hearing health and encourage others to do the same.



References:
World Health Organization. Deafness and hearing loss.

Pan American Health Organization / WHO. Hearing Health Data.

Ramos C. et al. (2025). Patient satisfaction with language-concordant providers.

Seible DM. et al. (2021). Influence of patient–provider language concordance on healthcare outcomes.

03/24/2026

SABIAS.......
👂 Marzo es el Mes de la Concientización sobre la Audición
La salud auditiva es fundamental para la comunicación, el aprendizaje y el bienestar general. A nivel mundial, más de 1.5 mil millones de personas viven con algún grado de pérdida auditiva, y aproximadamente 430 millones requieren servicios de rehabilitación por pérdida auditiva discapacitante (Organización Mundial de la Salud, 2023).

En regiones como el Valle del Río Grande (RGV) — una comunidad orgullosamente multicultural y bilingüe — el acceso a la atención auditiva continúa evolucionando. Cada vez más clínicas y profesionales están ampliando servicios bilingües (inglés–español) para atender mejor a poblaciones diversas.

La evidencia científica muestra que la atención médica en el idioma preferido del paciente mejora la comunicación, la confianza, la satisfacción y la adherencia al tratamiento (Seible et al., 2021; Ramos et al., 2025). Expandir los servicios auditivos bilingües ayuda a reducir barreras en el diagnóstico y tratamiento, promoviendo un acceso más equitativo a la salud auditiva en comunidades multiculturales.

💙 Este mes, tomemos un momento para priorizar nuestra salud auditiva y motivar a otros a hacer lo mismo.



Referencias:
Organización Mundial de la Salud. Deafness and Hearing Loss.

Seible, D. M., et al. (2021). Patient–provider language concordance and healthcare outcomes.

Ramos, C., et al. (2025). Patient satisfaction with language-concordant healthcare providers.

03/15/2026

This amazing journey began back in 2009, after graduating as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Houston became my home since then! 💫

03/04/2026

Mark your calendar for something very egg-citing! 🐰

The City of Webster's annual Easter egg hunt is happening Saturday, April 4th at Walnut Park. Join us promptly at 10 a.m. for egg hunts for kids ages 0-10, a special egg hunt for our senior citizens, and photos with the Easter Bunny! 🐰

03/04/2026

Spring Break is almost here! What better way to celebrate than by coming to Evelyn Meador Library's petting zoo? It takes place Tuesday, March 10, from 11 AM to 1 PM. 🐐

A huge thank you to the Seabrook Association for generously funding this program.

03/02/2026

Screen-time-and-speech-delays-toddlers

Explore the impact of increased screen time on toddlers' speech and problem-solving skills with Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD. Uncover key research insights and get expert advice on reducing screen time and choosing quality educational content.

02/27/2026

Denmark is officially moving away from the cry it out method after a nationwide study revealed it was still being taught in most municipalities. More than 700 psychologists signed a unified statement urging immediate discontinuation of the practice. They emphasized that prolonged crying without comfort elevates cortisol and affects how the infant brain forms emotional and stress regulation pathways. This national push reflects growing scientific awareness of early neural sensitivity.
Researchers highlight that when babies cry alone, their stress signals rise sharply. Without caregiver response, the brain begins wiring for self protection rather than trust. These early patterns influence later attachment styles emotional stability and even learning behavior. Denmark’s decision aligns with decades of neuroscience showing that infants depend on caregiver regulation to build healthy neural circuits.
Despite this, the cry it out approach continues to be recommended in parts of the U.S. where outdated models of infant independence remain common. Scientists argue that babies do not learn self soothing through isolation. Instead they learn through repeated experiences of comfort which stabilize heart rate breathing and emotional processing. This helps form long term resilience.
Denmark’s shift highlights a global conversation about infant well being. The science is clear. Responding to a baby’s distress supports healthier development than leaving them to cry alone.

02/24/2026

Kemah is taking a step forward for our neurodivergent families.

Last April, I asked that our Kemah Police Department receive training on how to better understand and respond to neurodivergent individuals during emergency situations.

That training has now been completed.

As part of this effort, KPD will also be offering “Occupant with Autism” vehicle stickers to help first responders quickly recognize and respond appropriately in high-stress situations.

This matters.

For some individuals, especially those who are non-verbal or process differently, emergency situations can escalate quickly. Awareness and training can mean the difference between confusion and calm.

This is just one step. I’m committed to continuing to work toward making Kemah more neurodivergent-friendly, not just in policy, but in practice.

If you’d like more information about the stickers or training, please reach out.

We’re just getting started.