Cid Speech Therapy, 1109 N Bryant Avenue , #110, Edmond, OK (2026)

10/29/2026

Parkinson’s Affects More Than Your Movement… It Can Affect Your Smile, Too! 💙

When we think of Parkinson’s disease, we often think of tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement. But did you know that Parkinson’s can also affect your speech, voice, swallowing, and even your ability to smile?

The same muscle rigidity and stiffness that affect the body can also impact the muscles of the face, jaw, lips, tongue, and throat.

These changes may contribute to:

• Reduced facial expression or a “masked” appearance
• Difficulty smiling naturally
• Softer, less expressive speech
• Tightness in the jaw, face, and neck
• Difficulty coordinating movements needed for speaking and swallowing

Your smile is an important part of how you communicate!

Myofascial release and specialized manual therapy techniques may help reduce muscular tension, improve comfort, and support greater freedom of movement in the face, jaw, and neck.

When combined with skilled speech and swallowing therapy, these hands-on approaches may complement treatment focused on improving communication, swallowing function, and facial mobility.

While manual therapy cannot reverse the neurological changes caused by Parkinson’s, addressing secondary muscle tension and restrictions may help individuals feel more comfortable and move more freely.

Because communication is more than words. It’s your voice, your expressions, your confidence… and your smile. 💙

08/07/2026

Wellness looks different when you’re living with a progressive neurological disease—and that’s okay. 💙

Wellness isn’t about “fixing” the disease. It’s about supporting the person.

It can mean:
✨ Preserving the abilities you have today.
✨ Finding easier, more comfortable ways to communicate, eat, move, and participate in daily life.
✨ Building routines that reduce fatigue and improve quality of life.
✨ Staying connected to the people and activities that matter most.
✨ Celebrating small victories, because they truly matter.

Whether you’re living with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, primary progressive aphasia, or another neurological condition, wellness is about maximizing function, independence, and joy at every stage.

As healthcare providers, caregivers, family members, and friends, we can shift the question from “How do we stop the disease?” to “How do we help this person live as fully as possible today?”

Every meaningful conversation, shared meal, walk, laugh, and moment of connection is part of wellness.

💙 Progress isn’t always measured by improvement. Sometimes it’s measured by maintaining what matters most.

05/02/2026

Come see me at the Oklahoma Parkinson’s Alliance walk! 🌷

04/25/2026

Speech Pathologists are often talking with clients about test results, swallowing techniques, food textures and exercises. I rarely talk about recipes. I thought I would share a soft recipe today that I enjoy at least once a weekend!

When I was in Panama last August, I often cooked veggies and side dishes to go alongside the meat. One morning, we were trying to figure out what to eat for breakfast. The leftover cooked veggies, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, inspired a new breakfast dish. I heated up the veggies with butter and olive oil and then added the eggs to make a veggie scramble. I’ve been making a version of this ever since!

It’s a soft food because the veggies are chopped up and cooked tender so easy to chew. I wouldn’t recommend for someone needing puréed foods or minced/moist foods, but above those textures, this could possibly be a good option. Of course, if you have Dysphagia, make sure all of these textures are safe for you before you try this. Checking with your Speech Pathologist to determine if this is a safe texture is highly recommended!

The eggs are a soft scramble texture. Today I added finely chopped spinach and some pico de gallo to the pan. I threw a little finely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley on top. Added diced ripe avocado on the side.

People living with Dysphagia deserve yummy recipes that are full of protein, veggies and lots of flavor. The colors of the rainbow bring a variety of phytonutrients which supports general health so having a veggie mix can really pack a healthy punch.

Let me know if you cook something like this already. If you try this for the first time, would love to know how you like it and what all you added to the eggs! If you have Dysphagia, let me know if you have yummy recipes you make on repeat! 🤗

04/25/2026

Speech Pathologists are often talking with clients about test results, swallowing techniques, food textures and exercises. I rarely talk about recipes. I thought I would share a soft recipe today that I enjoy at least once a weekend!

When I was in Panama last August, I often cooked veggies and side dishes to go alongside the meat. One morning, we were trying to figure out what to eat for breakfast. The leftover cooked veggies, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, inspired a new breakfast dish. I heated up the veggies with butter and olive oil and then added the eggs to make a veggie scramble. I’ve been making a version of this ever since!

It’s a soft food because the veggies are chopped up and cooked tender so easy to chew. I wouldn’t recommend for someone needing puréed foods or minced/moist foods, but above those textures, this could possibly be a good option. Of course, if you have Dysphagia, make sure all of these textures are safe for you before you try this. Checking with your Speech Pathologist to determine if this is a safe texture is highly recommended!

The eggs are a soft scramble texture. Today I added finely chopped spinach and some pico de gallo to the pan. I threw a little finely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley on top. Added diced ripe avocado on the side.

People living with Dysphagia deserve yummy recipes that are full of protein, veggies and lots of flavor. The colors of the rainbow bring a variety of phytonutrients which supports general health so having a veggie mix can really pack a healthy punch.

Let me know if you cook something like this already. If you try this for the first time, would love to know how you like it and what all you added to the eggs! If you have Dysphagia, let me know if you have yummy recipes you make on repeat! 🤗

04/22/2026

Parkinson’s Awareness Month has a special professional and personal meaning to me. 🌷

I remember a time when I felt so discouraged about helping people living with Parkinson’s. The “old school” thinking was that there was nothing you could do to help them. When I learned what the latest research showed, that Parkinson’s was one of the few progressive neurological diseases that responded very well to therapy and exercise, I quickly pivoted in my treatment philosophy.

14 years later, I’ve witnessed incredible improvements in my clients. Lives changed and hope renewed. In my own family, I’ve seen what exercise, therapy, spousal/family support, and encouragement can do to help someone function independently after 25 years of having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

The cost of impaired communication and swallowing includes isolation at family get togethers, frustrated interactions with spouses and immediate family, less time with friends, and less freedom to navigate doctor appointments independently, among other things.

Find your team. Find providers who will encourage you to keep moving, keep talking, keep exercising, keep searching for ways to function and feel better…..and to do it with intention!

I’d love to be a trusted part of your team!

03/05/2026

Excited for the new website to launch today!

cidspeechtherapy.com

03/05/2026

I had the best experience this week with my doctor. She listened to me with an intention to truly understand. She spoke to me about the mind/body connection and how the nervous system must be regulated in order to heal. This experience brought to mind the positive difference a provider can make when they address you as a whole person, considering mind, body and spirit.

My clients often speak about trauma when receiving a diagnosis or when experiencing a medical event. Unaddressed, this trauma can be an impediment to healing. There are simple nervous system reset techniques that can improve the response to treatment and are seldom discussed by providers.

I am so grateful to have found a medical team that partners with me, teaching me how to improve and heal. I endeavor to provide that level of care to my clients.

Many thanks to Dr. Royice Bargas, Cardiologist!