Neuro/Cognition/TBI (Adult) CEU Courses Text for SLPs

This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Overviews of the mechanics of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) are provided in this course. Functional therapy ideas for the acute rehabilitation phase of TBI and strategies for incorporating multidisciplinary goals into patient treatment and family education are also discussed.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Functional and standardized assessment of brain injury across settings are discussed in this course. Symptom identification, informal observational assessment, and challenges associated with using formal assessment in patients who have sustained head trauma are described.

An introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a modern evidence-based counseling approach, is provided in this course. Research support for ACT is discussed, and case studies to illustrate how ACT techniques can help patients and their families with the psychosocial consequences of living with communication disorders are presented.

Based on the textbook Medical Speech-Language Pathology Across the Care Continuum, this course explores medical SLP across settings (including acute care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, outpatient, home health and pediatrics), and collaborators, workflows, and diagnosis and treatment principles for each. Neuroimaging, pharmacology, and lab tests are discussed, and case studies demonstrate application of concepts across the care continuum.

Pragmatic and social cognition impairments following brain injuries are described in this course. Assessments, interventions, and the impact of deficits on personal and work relationships post-rehabilitation are discussed.

Communication strategies to support inpatients in the medical setting who are unable to speak are described in this course. Using principles of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), steps for evaluating patient capabilities, selecting and implementing strategies, equipment and materials, creating communication tools, and supporting partners and team members are discussed.

A variety of commercial and assistive technologies for remediating and accommodating attention, memory, executive functioning and other cognitive deficits that affect numerous functional areas are discussed in this course. The information is designed to help prepare the participant for the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) examination.

Increasingly, SLPs are serving individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI, cognitive reserve, and modifiable risk factors that can reduce the risk of dementia are defined and described in this course. An overview of cognitive/communicative deficits associated with MCI, as well as assessment and management considerations, is also provided.

The latest science shows that three of the most powerful ways to change the brain include social interaction, activity, and mental or cognitive challenges. This course provides updates on neuroplasticity across the lifespan, including information on mirror neurons, and offers concrete suggestions for clinicians who work with adults with neurologic communication disorders.

This course discusses the philosophy behind meeting meaningful needs in therapy, along with tools and counseling techniques that help with understanding a client’s needs. Specific techniques such as ethnographic counseling, motivational interviewing, and tools for verbally impaired clients are described, and examples within therapy interactions are provided.