Dysphagia (Adult) CEU Courses for SLPs

Aging in place is the goal of most elders, but it may require a great deal of support. The impact of normal aging on various systems and the differences between frail and well elders are described in this course. Information and interventions are discussed that allow interprofessional team members to support functional mobility, nutrition and hydration, and health management in their geriatric clients, in order to promote successful aging.

Key factors related to respiratory failure and oral intubation, including levels of respiratory support and effects of intubation on the larynx and swallow, are reviewed in this course. A decision-making framework for creating evidence-based, individualized plans of care is described within the context of a case study.

Determining when to discharge a patient from dysphagia therapy is challenging. Clinician-driven and patient-driven factors to consider when determining if it is time to discontinue therapy are discussed in this course, and evidence related to timelines for swallowing improvement is presented.

The research and theoretical framework behind trach/vent management is described in this course. A complex case study is provided as an in-depth look at a decision-making approach.

Clinicians who utilize thickened liquids in their clinical practice are aware of their benefits, but what about the risks and contraindications? Advantages and disadvantages of thickened liquids are reviewed in this course with a focus on clinical outcomes, including impacts on medication administration, lung health, and hydration. Product types are evaluated to facilitate appropriate choices for individual clients.

Motor variability refers to the natural variation that occurs in repeated task movements. Evidence for this task variability in swallowing, and how it can be influenced by age-related changes (presbyphagia), are described in this course. Discussion includes ways to improve diagnostic accuracy by using this information to differentiate typical variation from true impairment in swallowing performance.

A comprehensive, systematic clinical pathway to effectively assess and manage dysphagia in persons with dementia is described in this course. Common eating challenges and contraindications of enteral feeding for those with advanced stage dementia are addressed. Environmental modifications, swallow strategies and adaptive equipment that can enhance the safety and experience of oral intake are also discussed.

This is Part 2 of a two-part series. An overview of tracheostomy tube and mechanical ventilator management, including their effects on airflow, speech and swallowing, is provided in this course. Discussion includes speaking valves, common challenges, and ways to improve outcomes in this complex patient population.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Respiratory disease, respiratory failure, oral intubation, effects of intubation on the larynx and the swallow, and dysphagia management are discussed in this course. Risk factors and salient features of dysphagia after extubation are described in order to help clinicians effectively evaluate and treat their patients.

Patients who are losing weight or demonstrating behaviors that decrease oral intake are at high risk for adverse events, especially in the geriatric population. The impact of impaired cognition on feeding, and strategies to assess and treat patients who are struggling at mealtimes, are described in this course.