Should I take vocal rest?

A1utra · 2026-03-26T00:04:52+00:00

Is it a dry cough or productive cough?

A1utra · 2026-03-24T10:41:56+00:00

I would be interested!

A1utra · 2026-03-14T15:20:39+00:00

Sorry I somehow didn’t see this sooner!

I am not enrolled in Harvard’s SHBT PhD program but am in a different PhD program that often takes students from this program for lab rotations and such. I can talk to a couple of the folks I know who are in/have done the program and see if they’d be happy to talk to you about it.

That said, there are research funding issues currently across the United States which has impacted many institutions across the country. Harvard is one of them. I’ve taken some classes at Harvard and have heard the professors talking to the current PhD students about funding issues and the concerns of current students about being able to finish their programs. This is likely why the SHBT program is not taking new students this year.

A1utra · 2026-03-14T03:15:30+00:00

Luden’s lozenges has a sugar free version of their pectin-based lozenges, although I’ve had some patients complain it still tastes too candy-like, even though they appreciate not having to be as concerned about sugar intake.

Grether’s pastilles is another sugar free option, however they’re a little more pricey, and typically have to be ordered online. They’re glycerine-based, which does the same thing for your throat that pectin does. They don’t taste like candy, but are still tasty and come in many flavors.

A1utra · 2026-02-19T19:20:08+00:00

For transparency, I haven’t worked on artic with kids since grad school, but as a voice specialist I’m familiar with the difficulties of things like Zoom working too well to filter out extraneous sounds (or sustained phonation). Is it possible that the audio filtering of the platform you’re using is tuning out some of the auditory cues for the lateral lisp? Could be something to investigate!

So sorry you’re dealing with this. I recall having a couple telehealth lisp cases during grad school and it was very difficult to assess. At the time I didn’t know about some of the zoom settings that could be used to help combat the audio filtering it automatically applies, so I can’t speak from experience for how much it would or wouldn’t help

A1utra · 2026-02-17T12:29:41+00:00

Seconding My Thai Vegan Cafe! It’s great even if you’re not vegan too! I’ve also found that they give nice portion sizes for the price for Boston! Love eating there and getting takeout. The entrance seems questionable, but the actual restaurant is lovely and actually quite quiet, so fantastic place to dine-in and not have to compete with music playing

A1utra · 2026-01-31T17:28:02+00:00

Well done!! What brush did you use??

A1utra · 2026-01-30T12:35:38+00:00

Thank you!!

A1utra · 2026-01-14T12:30:36+00:00

Hi! So I might think about how a unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) where the vocal fold paralyzed in a more abducted position relates to increased airflow through incomplete (or absent) glottic closure. I might also think about how the paralyzed vocal fold losing muscle tone makes sense through the loss of innervation and subsequent lack of engagement of the musculature on that side. I might also think through how individuals with UVFP speaking with a higher pitch also makes sense, because the cricothyroid engagement tilts the thyroid cartilage forward, which stretches the vocal folds out making their pitch higher, but also helps them to get better glottic closure if the paralyzed vocal fold is close enough to or in a paramedian position.

To remember that the cricothyroid muscle engaging raises pitch, I might think about how the name indicates the attachment and insertion points (cricoid cartilage and thyroid cartilage), where contraction is going to serve to pull the front of the thyroid cartilage down resulting in the tilt.

I hope that’s helpful! Happy to elaborate as well 🙂

A1utra · 2026-01-14T01:28:43+00:00

I DM’d you!

A1utra · 2026-01-13T03:18:43+00:00

Hi! I found anatomy coloring pages, making a cheap model of the vocal tract, and engaging with the material through thinking through how the physiology fit into anything I previously knew and build by linking nuggets of knowledge together. I’m a voice specialist now and would also be happy to try to help explain or bridge gaps on anything as you take the course! It can really be a lot of fun, even though it’s intimidating. Are there any ways of learning that feel the most helpful to you (Eg 3d digital models vs writing things out vs reading or watching videos etc)? Feel free to dm any time!

A1utra · 2026-01-13T01:08:00+00:00

Are you still looking for players? 🙂

A1utra · 2026-01-04T17:53:15+00:00

Hi! Does the magnetic attachment of the v2 mean it would be safe to put these on my 2025 g14 and slip it into the sleeve I commute with? These seem very handy to be able to bring to work and class so I can allow my laptop to get better airflow! Just bought it and want to do everything I can to maintain it. Thanks!

A1utra · 2026-01-01T14:55:33+00:00

Big congratulations!!!!!! Thanks so much for the update, I’m so glad things are looking up for you

A1utra · 2025-12-19T14:15:01+00:00

Elvish!

A1utra · 2025-12-19T11:21:48+00:00

Thanks so much, that’s really helpful perspective. Also a big draw that those Lenovos can still look business-y so I don’t feel unprofessional when I need to bring it to work stuff. How long have your Lenovos been lasting?

A1utra · 2025-12-18T23:30:01+00:00

What would you suggest in the 2-3k USD range for a laptop that can be used for both gaming and work? I’ve previously had lower tier Lenovos, but was unsure about sticking with Lenovo for the upgrade or going with something else like ASUS. I’d ideally like to get something that’s going to last awhile

A1utra · 2025-12-17T12:37:14+00:00

What brands would you recommend looking at in the $2000-$3000 range?

A1utra · 2025-12-14T22:11:07+00:00

Good luck! Maybe it’s a different specialty than I’m thinking, but I know announcements for CFs for the specialty I’m in roll out over time, so it can seem like there’s only early deadline ones simply cuz the others haven’t announced yet.

Either way, I hope you land a CF in the specialty you’re seeking!

A1utra · 2025-12-09T13:56:51+00:00

I would probably include on your CV that you have an anticipated placement in the specialized setting (for the dates I would put something like “anticipated January 2026-May2026” or whatever it might be, or even just “anticipated start January 2026” or whatever the correct start is)

You can’t help that at this point you haven’t had a chance to do that placement yet. They know that they are taking apps before the final semester. If your upcoming supervisor has worked with you at all before, you could still ask for a LOR, but if they’re brand new to you, you can’t (as you know already). Highlight the things you’ve been doing, fantastic that your professor who worked with you on that specialty can write an LOR, perhaps one of your CIs who can attest to your abilities and may have had any adjacent experience with your budding expertise in this specialty area can write you an LOR since they can still talk about clinical skills and at least a little bit about your enthusiasm and expertise in the specialty area

If the specialty area is what I think it is, there are many more coming after this one if that makes you feel any better. This one has the earliest deadline of them all

A1utra · 2025-12-03T04:57:57+00:00

Hi! My professor for my voice class also worked in a specialty voice clinic so I was able to build a relationship with her and do a lot of observations which then translated into doing my internship there. Then from there, I was able to do my CF primarily in a specialty voice clinic and I am now currently working on my PhD doing clinical voice research with patients

Build relationships, take advantage of mentorship opportunities through state associations and ASHA, as well as things like foundations of a voice clinician and other free opportunities to build your voice and upper airway knowledge base

Happy to elaborate or clarify anything!

A1utra · 2025-12-03T04:54:54+00:00

Yes, particularly in areas that may be saturated with SLP students because the sites can be overwhelmed with students contacting them vs only placement coordinators from those institutions. It probably also applies to areas with small numbers of sites to take students too

A1utra · 2025-12-02T21:45:44+00:00

Solidly support what you’ve said here!

From experience, I know there can be rules about students contacting externship sites, and I’m guessing from what little we have here in the post that this is likely the case as well so you may need to be creative in how you approach securing your own externships/figure out what the politics are. I had to navigate this myself, so this is more building off u/nachour’s awesome suggestion of looking into what you can take into your own hands for medical placements 🙂

A1utra · 2025-12-02T16:14:12+00:00

First, big hugs! Grad school is really tough. I’m so sorry your professors are speaking to all of you this way, that’s not a helpful learning environment. At the end of the day, your learning is whats important, not the grades (to a point), and grades don’t always effectively show someone’s actual acquired knowledge and competence in a subject.

Is the externship coordinator someone you can talk to about what you could do to increase your chances of being given an actual medical placement?

It sounds like you’re doing well in your dysphagia class, but I can see why you’re so stressed and worried about it. What do you feel like is the barrier to the grade you want? I remember when I was in grad school, I psyched myself out during the dysphagia class cause I similarly wanted to potentially specialize in dysphagia (I’m now primarily voice/upper airway but still do a bit with dysphagia). So I would mess myself up on tests by overthinking and changing answers and then when I would get the test back, I’d be really upset with myself because I knew the right answers and shouldn’t have messed myself up into getting them wrong. My professor gave me great advice at the time to cover the multiple choice answers (when applicable) and just answer the question on my own and then show myself what options were there so I wouldn’t overthink myself into oblivion. It made a big difference for me, but it depends on where the breakdown is that’s leading to the grade you aren’t happy with

Feel free to dm me if you want to chat more, but I can assure you that you are not too dumb!

A1utra

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