Allison McFarland
Plano,TX
Summary
Dynamic Speech-Language Pathologist with significant experience in assessing and treating voice, swallowing and upper airway disorders. Proven success in enhancing patient outcomes through individualized therapy plans, interdisciplinary collaboration and education regarding vocal health. Skilled in tracheoesophageal prosthesis management, dysphagia management and multiple voice therapy techniques.
Overview
1
1
Certification
Work History
Speech-Language Pathologist
UT Southwestern Medical Center
2007 - 2010
- Conducted evaluations to identify voice disorders using a range of perceptual assessments and rating scales (including VHI, GRBAS and CAPE-V), acoustic measurements, interpretation of videostroboscopic evaluations of the vocal folds and detailed patient history
- Developed and implemented individualized voice therapy plans utilizing therapy techniques such as resonant voice therapy, vocal function exercises, and stretch and flow
- Evaluated patients status post total laryngectomy for tracehoesophageal prosthetic usage including measuring and fitting prothesis length and diameter and selecting the most appropriate type of TE prosthesis for patient needs
- Worked with TE prosthesis patients on voice production and and conducted extensive patient and caregiver education on safety, care, maintenance and trouble shooting related to their TE prosthesis
- Treated and educated patients experiencing chronic cough and inducible laryngeal obstruction
- Conducted Modified Barium Swallow studies in collaboration with a radiologist to diagnose dysphagia and identify postural changes and effective therapeutic maneuvers
- Collaborated as part of interdisciplinary team of doctors and therapists in a weekly ALS clinic hosted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Provided patient education, swallowing therapy, and connected patients to appropriate Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices
Speech-Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow
The Warren Center (Formerly Richardson Development Center for Children)
2006 - 2007
- Managed a caseload of children aged birth to three years with communication and feeding disorders
- Conducted comprehensive speech and language assessments for children with diverse communication disorders.
- Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to develop and implement individualized family service plans (IFSPs), in compliance with district and state regulations.
- Provided parent and family education on enhancing language skills through everyday interactions in their home environments
Education
Master of Arts - Hearing And Speech Sciences
University of Maryland
College Park, MD05-2006
Bachelor of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK2004
Skills
- Assessment of voice disorders
- Treatment of voice disorders utilizing a variety of therapeutic techniques
- Tracheoesophageal prosthesis management
- Treatment and education of professional voice users
- Assessment and treatment of chronic cough, inducible laryngeal obstruction and exercise induced laryngeal obstruction
- Dysphagia evaluation and management
- Interdisciplinary medical teamwork
- Digital documentation
Certification
- Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) – American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2007-Present
- Texas State License –Speech-Language Pathology
Timeline
Speech-Language Pathologist
UT Southwestern Medical Center
2007 - 2010
Speech-Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow
The Warren Center (Formerly Richardson Development Center for Children)
2006 - 2007
Master of Arts - Hearing And Speech Sciences
University of Maryland
Bachelor of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
University of Tulsa
Relevant Continuing Education
- Cough Strengthening Treatment Impact on Vocal Health in Parkinson’s Disease (January 2026)
- Respiratory Muscle Strength Training and Speech-Language Pathologists: Part 1 (January 2026)
- Respiratory Muscle Strength Training and Speech-Language Pathologists: Part 2 (January 2026)
- Laryngectomy Rehabilitation: An Acute Care Primer (January 2026)
- Bilingual Transgender Voice: Increasing the SLP's Awareness (December 2025)
- Aging Voice (December 2025)
- Laryngectomy Rehabilitation: Building a Foundation After Hospital Discharge (December 2025)
- Chronic Cough: Management (December 2025)
- Artificial Larynx Basics: Strategies for Implementation Across the Continuum of Care (December 2025)
- Laryngectomy Rehabilitation: A Roadmap to Finding the Right Stomal Attachment (December 2025)
- Vocal Fold Paralysis (December 2025)
- Laryngectomy Basics: An Introduction to Voice and Pulmonary Changes (December 2025)
- Tracheoesophageal Voice: Basic Troubleshooting and Practical Solutions (December 2025)
- Voice Disorders: Basic Principles for Functional Assessment (December 2025)
- Transgender Voice and Communication (December 2025)
- Head and Neck Cancer for the Speech-Language Pathologist (March 2024)
- Induced Laryngeal Obstruction - An Overview for Speech-Language Pathologists (March 2024)
- Chronic Cough: Evaluation (March 2024)
- Demystifying Voice Therapy (March 2024)
- Behavioral Voice Evaluation (March 2024)
- Direct Behavioral Voice Therapy Techniques (March 2024)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The Impact on Swallowing in Adults (March 2024)
- Aspiration Pneumonia Management in Complex Cases: Putting Theories into Practice (March 2024)
- Aspiration Pneumonia Management in Complex Cases: Beyond the Swallow (March 2024)
- Optimizing Voice and Breathing After Total Laryngectomy: Guidelines for Stomal Attachment Selection (March 2020)
- Pediatric Voice Disorders: Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches (March 2020)
- Understanding Skin Physiology and Management After Total Laryngectomy (March 2020)
- Voice Evaluation - Beyond the Basics (March 2020)
- Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD): Evidence-Based Treatment (March 2020)