The most significant payment model change in over 20 years will move from concept to reality January 1, 2020. It may seem like there is plenty of time to prepare for impact, but this model will remove the relationship between the number of therapy visits and reimbursement, causing additional anxiety for therapists working in home health. This course will break down the key components of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) and provide strategies for therapists to articulate value beyond the visit.

The integration of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and guided metaphors with behavioral models of SLP delivery is often vital to unleashing confidence and the courage to communicate. This course will demonstrate how stories can be used as metaphors to help improve outcomes for individuals with speech disorders.

This course will focus on information as the foundation to maximize outcomes for children with hearing loss when the audiologist and SLP work together as a team. The information addressed will assist the SLP in effectively accessing audiology input to support students/patients with hearing loss.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series. This course will briefly discuss normal anatomy and physiology of swallowing function and choosing appropriate candidates for FEES. Case studies of 3 patients with mild dysphagia will review case history, video of FEES, interpretation and recommendations.

This course will explore the emerging concern among helping professionals (e.g., SLPs) that clinicians are at risk for occupational burnout. Evidence will be provided, critical factors examined and potential solutions for SLPs and audiologists will be proposed.

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) has been identified as a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. ARHL and dementia are costly conditions because of their marked impact on social functioning, health outcomes and well-being. This course will provide an overview of dementia, its connections to hearing loss, and therapeutic modifications SLPs can employ to optimize audibility and communication.

This course will provide SLPs with a critically important view of how and why poverty has a tremendous impact on both language learning and academic success. Key strategies for working with school teams and conducting therapy will also be shared.

This course will review scenarios that might result in difficult discussions with parents and children in stuttering assessment and treatment. Strategies for building effective therapeutic partnerships will be discussed.

This is Part 3 of a three-part series on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This course will discuss nutrition options - including percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) - as well as strategies to use at mealtime. Culture and religion can influence acceptance of a feeding tube; therefore, a patient's decision should be documented in an Advanced Directive. Resources for the SLP and patient will be reviewed. (Part 1: Course #8717, Part 2: Course #8719)

This course will provide information on the connection between early experiences and early formation of language. Through this framework, the course will look at the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and serve-and-return interactions on the language gap that exists for many communities across the US.