Tia Peeples was inspired to pursue a career in speech-language pathology after losing her grandfather to head and neck cancer. Here, she shares her calling as a speech-language pathologist in head and neck cancer care, helping patients regain and maintain their ability to speak, swallow and communicate effectively after their cancer diagnosis.
I was inspired to pursue this profession after my Papa was diagnosed with head and neck cancer during my freshman year of college and underwent a total laryngectomy. Watching his speech-language pathologist provide him with both swallowing therapy and alaryngeal voice rehabilitation opened my eyes to the profound impact our field can have on a person’s quality of life. That experience — both personal and deeply meaningful — sparked a passion that has only grown throughout my career.
Having been a caregiver myself, alongside my mother, I bring a unique blend of empathy, knowledge and dedication to providing holistic, patient-centered care for individuals facing head and neck cancer. This is more than just a job to me — it’s a calling rooted in lived experience and a deep commitment to helping others reclaim their voice, swallowing function, confidence and daily life.
As a speech-language pathologist specializing in head and neck cancer, I support patients across all phases of care to preserve and restore voice, communication and swallowing function impacted by cancer and its treatment. Treatment may include surgical intervention, radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
Before treatment, I provide baseline assessments, patient and family education and a prophylactic exercise program to optimize oral intake and minimize future impairments. During treatment, I monitor speech, voice and swallowing function, manage symptoms, provide pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with tracheostomies or laryngectomies, and offer strategies to maintain safe and efficient communication and swallowing.
After treatment, I focus on rehabilitation through personalized therapy, instrumental assessments and long-term support. My goal is to help patients regain confidence in speaking, eating and fully engaging in daily life.
I work in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and I’m proud to be part of a multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive, patient-centered care. In the inpatient setting, I assess and manage swallowing and communication needs following surgery or during hospitalization for treatment-related complications, ensuring safe oral intake and communication strategies before discharge.
On an outpatient basis, I collaborate with surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and other specialists to evaluate patients pre- and post-treatment, provide ongoing therapy, and contribute to individualized treatment planning. I participate in weekly multidisciplinary tumor board meetings, case discussions, and care planning meetings to advocate for patients’ functional needs and help guide decisions that support quality of life.
Through every step, I strive to ensure that speech, voice, swallowing, and airway considerations are fully integrated into the overall treatment and recovery process.
Learn more about the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Head & Neck Cancer Program.
