Nixon Speech and Language, LLC

08/17/2026

08/16/2026

It’s been a while since Words Have Weight: Part 2, but the silence wasn't empty—I’ve been working behind the scenes on Part 3.

This next chapter dives headfirst into a phenomenon far too many patients live through, yet rarely have the language to name: Epistemic Injustice.

What is Epistemic Injustice? Coined by philosopher Miranda Fricker, it occurs when someone is wronged specifically in their capacity as a knower.

In healthcare, it looks like this: A patient brings hard facts, medical history, and lived knowledge of their own body to an appointment—only for that physical reality to be dismissed, minimized, or overwritten by a quick psychological label ("it's just stress/anxiety").

Part 3 uses narrative art and graphic illustration—built directly from my real medical records—to trace what happens when clinical blindness overrides objective data.

Because I’m stepping offline briefly for medical care soon, the entire series is will drop over the coming weeks.

Have you ever felt your physical symptoms were written off as 'just anxiety'? Let's talk about it in the comments.



⚖️ Rights & Attribution: Words Have Weight (Part 3) is an original narrative art project by Stephanie M. Nixon, PhD, CCC-SLP, based on lived experience. Names and places are fictionalized for privacy.

Sharing Terms: Feel free to repost intact with full credit and link back. No edits, modifications, or commercial use. AI tools were used under my strict narrative direction to visualize my medical records. Full disclosure & blog link in bio.

08/04/2026

When documenting the "ROS (Review of Symptoms)", it would be amazing if providers .. Only documented symptoms they asked the patient about as present/absent .. Documented all symptoms discussed .. Avoided minimizing the patient's symptoms .. Ensured the information was consistent with the HPI and existing diagnoses

And with the HPI ... Document what is in the record AND what the patient actually said. e.g., If a patient says a symptom worsened after a procedure, then don't say it persisted say it worsened. If a patient says pain in a region is between 6-8, don't say "some". Some doesn't express the significance especially if the patient notes the pain is making it hard to engage in an activity.

What sort of medical note errors have you seen?

07/13/2026

Raise your hand if you’re tired of playing "medical records detective." 🙋‍♀️

Living with a complex chronic illness means you’re essentially running an unpaid medical accounting firm just to get the care you need. Between tracking symptoms, syncing five different hospital portals, and filling out disability paperwork, it’s exhausting.

I’ve finally found a tool that handles the load. I’ve written up a full review of how I use Guava Health to manage my "spoon" budget, track meds, and even organize my tax/disability paperwork.

It’s not just a tracker; it’s a command center.

What I love most:

✅ It listens: I can speak to the AI in the ER to help explain lab results so I know what to ask the doctor.

✅ It saves me hours: No more hunting through portals for dates/fax numbers for disability claims.

✅ It’s safe: They don’t sell your data (which was non-negotiable for me).

If you’re drowning in medical paperwork, this might be the peace of mind you need. Read my full breakdown here: https://nixonspeechandlanguage.com/review-guava-health-the-ultimate-spoonie-command-center/

Guava Health

Review: Guava Health: The Ultimate “Spoonie” Command Center Written by Stephanie M. Nixon, PhD, CCC-SLP on July 13, 2026. Posted in Apps, Guava Health, Health care, Navigating health care, Patient Advocacy, Patient communication. Reviewer Profile: Complex chronic illness patient juggling multipl...

07/03/2026

I tried bifocals and got way too dizzy. (Not even progressive ones just old school.). So now....2 pairs of glasses one for reading and one for distance.

But does health insurance cover my glasses or contacts? No. Does vision insurance cover 2 pairs of glasses in a year? No. Do they cover one pair + contacts? No.

And my prescription is too high for Costco (I checked). I use Apex Optical in Bethesda for my glasses. Never a problem! But the cost of my glasses is definitely high but worth to have a functional pair. And my vision insurance only reimbursed $155.... When the lenses alone are wayyyy more than that

To me it seems odd and absolutely wrong that glasses and contacts aren't covered...as they are medically necessary.

06/21/2026

The board flipping is real. Over a week ago I received an automated message that a pre-op appointment for my upcoming spine surgery was cancelled.

I immediately called the surgeon's office, and learned that not only was it cancelled it sounded like the provider may need a colleague to take over my procedure. I was supposed to receive a call back, which still hasn't come.

When we talk about telling a patient to be more flexible, this is one of the most glaring issues I'm experiencing right now. I understand the amount of time each case takes providers. I understand I'm not the only patient affected in this specific instance, but I don't think anyone would mean I wait more than 5 days without any custom response from the provider or the office about this level of shift.

And my guess is that other neurodivergent patients are in the same boat as me - we don't always know when we have become "too flexible" and what is the point at which we say - "No. We deserve at least some answers now or at minimum a timeframe for those answers".

When the board flips: Paddle boarding through choppy waters Written by Stephanie M. Nixon, PhD, CCC-SLP on March 19, 2026. Posted in Chronic illness, Neurodivergence. 🚨 TL;DR: The “Paddle Boarder’s Guide to Surviving the Medical System” The Problem: For neurodivergent and chronically ill pe...

05/31/2026

The Florida Center for Reading Research and advice for summer reading!

Check out what The Florida Center for Reading Research shared:

"Looking for ways to support early literacy at home this summer? Check out this Institute of Education Sciences resource developed by our colleagues here at FCRR!

📚 A Resource for Parents and Caring Adults of Children in Grades K–3: Supporting Your Child's Reading at Home

Parents and caregivers play a powerful role in helping children become confident readers. This REL Southeast infographic, based on the What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, gives families simple, practical ways to support their child's reading development at home.

It breaks down the four foundational reading skills children develop in grades K–3 and offers easy activities, examples, and tips to use during everyday interactions."

Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/HomeReadingTips

05/31/2026

Managing multiple chronic health conditions is tough, but dealing with insurance paperwork on top of it can completely drain your daily energy. Today, I found a shortcut to save my "spoons." 🥄

I used a few basic tips from a Google AI course to set up a custom "Gem" to act as my personal assistant. Its job is to read through messy insurance fine print and help me draft appeal letters for my bills.

When you have limited physical or mental energy, fighting with insurance companies can ruin your whole day. Using AI for heavy reading isn't about being a tech wizard—it’s just a smart way to pace myself and protect my health.

I still review every draft for accuracy, but it saves me so much time and effort compared to doing it all from scratch. Truly grateful for tools that make the hard days a little easier. 🛠️

05/29/2026

Have you ever walked into a follow-up appointment, described a new and terrifying symptom, only to be told it’s “just a normal part of the process”?

When providers dismiss what you are feeling, they are often guessing. To move them from guessing to investigating, you need objective data to bridge the gap.

In my latest post, I review the new platform rollout and share how its "Coach" has acted as an objective witness for my own body—catching resting heart rate shifts before a infection and tracking my treatment trajectories after iron infusions.

If you are managing a complex history or dealing with heavy brain fog, expecting your working memory to recall exact symptom timelines while in pain is exhausting.

Here is how to use the Google Health rollout as a Spoon-Saving Strategy:

🥄 Low/Medium Energy Day? You don’t have to type out extensive, rigid data lists. You can talk out your symptoms dynamically through a fluid, conversational chat. The Coach actually builds a long-term memory of your roadmap (like remembering a rescheduled surgery date from weeks ago!).
🥄🥄 Appointment Prep? Open the app, ask the Coach to synthesize your recent biometric shifts (like HRV and Resting Heart Rate), and print out the plain-language summary. Boom—you have an instant, objective talking-points script to hand to your doctor.

Logging your metrics isn't "obsessing." It’s an act of care auditing that forces providers to look past standard labels and look directly at your unique, physical reality.

Check out the full post, read the real-world case studies, and see the app screenshots here:
https://nixonspeechandlanguage.com/google-healths-the-master-of-context-and-your-early-warning-system/

Google Health’s: The Master of Context and Your Early Warning System Written by Stephanie M. Nixon, PhD, CCC-SLP on May 29, 2026. Posted in Apps, Chronic illness, Gemini, Google Health, Health care. Please review my blog disclaimers and disclosures Transparency & Context: My Beta Experience Note o...

05/25/2026

Navigating long-term disability means redefining what "productivity" looks like on a daily basis. For me, because severe functional limitations make sustained, traditional employment impossible, finding small ways to stay mentally engaged within my strict physical boundaries is vital for my mental health.

That is exactly what this week’s giveaway was: a tiny, therapeutic volunteer project to honor my late mother Debby’s memory, completely paced around my health and erratic energy reserves.

To be completely transparent, this isn't a bustling commercial operation or a lucrative business venture—it’s a low-energy legacy archive and a personal hobby space. It doesn't generate substantial income, and it doesn't represent a capacity for sustained work.

In fact, without using generative AI as a critical cognitive assistive technology—a framework I learned through specialized courses to help accommodate my limitations—an administrative task like this would have been entirely out of reach for my system.

For individuals living with chronic illness or disability, AI isn't a 'business hack'—it is an essential assistive technology. It bridges the gap when physical and cognitive fatigue hit, allowing me to preserve my mom's legacy and at least keep my mind active in short, sporadic bursts from home, without jeopardizing my physical health.

Technology should help us adapt to our limitations, and I am grateful for tools that allow for this kind of low-impact, therapeutic stimulation.🧠❤️