Beyond MontCOMM: Finding Voice – Enhancing Communication in ALS

MonTECH is going Beyond MontCOMM—digging deeper to strengthen Montana’s AAC community through a new online training series.

Join us November 18, 4:00–5:00 p.m., for “Finding Voice: Enhancing Communication in ALS” featuring Cathy Heggem (MS, CCC-SLP).

Every 90 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Here in Montana, an estimated 44–66 people are living with it at any given time. Early connection with a skilled speech-language pathologist is critical, yet not all SLPs have the experience to guide patients through evolving communication needs and voice banking.

Cathy’s got you! She’ll cover:

1. ALS and its impact on communication

2. Augmentative and alternative communication options

3. Speech generating devices

4. Voice banking

Free to attend, but please register in advance. Can’t make it live? Register anyway to request the recording.

Cathy Heggem is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist providing speech therapy services to adults since 2012. She is skilled in providing assessment and intervention for feeding and swallowing issues, aphasia, dysarthria, cognitive dysfunction, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diagnoses. Cathy currently works with the ALS Clinic at Billings Clinic, providing comprehensive care via a team approach for patients living with ALS.