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$85.00 USD

96% rating - reviews

0.45  ASHA CEUs

Dysphagia Management And Adults With Intellectual Disability #e292


Presenters: Melissa Farrow, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Kristine Goldynia, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Dysphagia assessment, management plans, and training programs for adults with intellectual disability.


"I now have a better understanding of this population as it relates to dysphagia. Methods and strategies to help minimize risk for aspiration, standardized testing options, and caregiver meal plan training ideas."

— M.D., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

Adults with intellectual disability (ID) are at risk for dysphagia. The unique swallowing, feeding, and behavioral challenges experienced in this population must be considered when assessing and treating these patients. This course will examine the nature of dysphagia management in adults with intellectual disability by exploring the current evidence in this area as it relates to the clinical practice of speech-language pathologists who assess and treat swallowing disorders in this population.

Course topics and discussion include:

  • History of ID care as it relates to SLP areas of practice.
  • Swallowing function in adults with ID.
  • Dysphagia assessment and management plans.
  • Community-based living options for adults with ID.
  • Identify barriers and facilitators to caregiver training.
  • Caregiver training and dysphagia outcomes.

Course is offered for 0.45 ASHA CEUs – 4.5 Contact Hours.

Course Overview – Run Time

Course Overview – Run Time: 4:36:04

Course Outline Part 1:

  1. Background.
  2. Settings and service models.
  3. Health disparities - life expectancy, morbidity, mortality.
  4. Dysphagia assessment.
  5. Barriers to swallowing safety.
  6. Oral health.
  7. Body structure and function.
  8. Standardized assessment options.
  9. The dysphagia plan of care.
  10. Case study.

Course Outline Part 2:

  1. Policy.
  2. Overview of community-based living options.
  3. Support within community-based settings.
  4. Managing the plan of care.
  5. Staff training.
  6. Case Study.

Dysphagia and Intellectual Disabilities

This course discusses appropriate dysphagia assessment, management plans, and training programs for adults with intellectual disability.


"This entire course is geared towards the population I work with! I liked the case studies and practicality of the course for SLPs working with adults with Intellectual Disabilities."

— K.S., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

Content Disclosures

The content of this online CE course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area.

Course Format

Video PowerPoint presentation with author narration & downloadable handout. Stop and re-start the course at any point. Learners retain access to course content after completion for ongoing reference and review.

Reviews

Comments From Prior Course Participants

"Discussion around oral hygiene - this was something I never learned in so much depth previously. I appreciate that I can access course later to review any parts I want to revisit." M.L. (Dec. 2024)

"Discussing assessment tools (Choking and PNA risk assessment, Dysphagia Management Staging Scale) and oral care and impact on the individual were beneficial. I liked the charts and case study." A.B. (Nov. 2024)

"What factors to consider when completing swallow assessment were beneficial to discuss." K.S. (Oct. 2024)

"The standardized tools for IDD population were helpful to discuss." C.L. (Sep. 2024)

"All information was excellent, and I learned a lot that I can implement in my private practice with dysphagia and the IDD population. The course was easy to follow." C.W. (Jul. 2024)

"Dysphagia management and caregiver training for dysphagia were beneficial." K.S. (Jul. 2024)

"The approaches to treatment and caregiver training in institutionalized vs. community-based settings were helpful. I appreciated the depth and detail of information provided." K.S. (Jun. 2024)

"I liked learning about Rumination syndrome and the associated clinical symptoms." K.W. (May. 2024)

"Group home training was helpful. I enjoyed the case study information." K.U. (Mar. 2024)

"The assessments were beneficial. Corroborates my practices." E.G. (Feb. 2024)

"I now have a better understanding of this population as it relates to dysphagia. Methods and strategies to help minimize risk for aspiration, standardized testing options, and caregiver meal plan training ideas." M.D. (Jan. 2024)

"Discussing different assessments was beneficial. I liked the overview of the plan of care and follow through." M.S. (Jan. 2024)

"I am the guardian for an adult with ID, and we recently had a hospitalization with aspiration - this course has provided many opportunities for me to engage his support team in his group home." C.S. (Dec. 2023)

"All of the information covered is pertinent to my current work environment, so this is very useful." J.F. (Dec. 2023)

"IDD/dysphagia were beneficial topics. Easy listening." R.C. (Dec. 2023)

"Periodontal issues were beneficial to discuss. I liked the speed and details with the use of the slides." M.S. (Dec. 2023)

"I liked that the course was convenient to complete at my own pace and at home." J.C. (Dec. 2023)

"As someone who works with individuals with ID, this course was helpful in terms of providing information on identifying interventions and developing a POC." K.P. (Nov. 2023)

"Entire course was of benefit. All information was clinically applicable to my work." H.S. (Nov. 2023)

"The standardized clinical swallowing assessments were beneficial. I liked the information discussed." J.M. (Nov. 2023)

"This entire course is geared towards the population I work with! I liked the case studies and practicality of the course for SLPs working with adults with Intellectual Disabilities." K.S. (Oct. 2023)

"I liked the standardized assessments, oral care, and the care plan." J.Z. (Oct. 2023)

"Discussing the oral hygiene statistics in individuals with IDD was helpful." N.P. (Sep. 2023)

"The topic of rumination was beneficial to discuss." L.P. (Sep. 2023)

"The sections on dental hygiene, types of community settings and level of staff experience were beneficial. The slides were very helpful." M.T. (Sep. 2023)

"It was beneficial learning how to help individuals with intellectual disabilities manage their dysphagia successfully. Also, identifying how to limit s/s. I enjoy broadening my knowledge in the area of dysphagia. Specifically with practical examples." M.D. (Aug. 2023)

"This was a very informative course. There is a great need for information about the residential setting for the ID/DD population." Y.S. (Jul. 2023)

Course Objectives

At course conclusion, participants will be able to:
  1. Describe the history of ID care in the United States as it relates to SLP areas of practice.
  2. Identify elements that impact swallowing function in adults with ID and complex medical needs using the ICF assessment model.
  3. Describe appropriate dysphagia assessment, management plans, and training programs for adults with intellectual disability. 
  4. Describe the complexity of community-based living options for adults with ID.
  5. Identify barriers and facilitators to caregiver training.
  6. Describe the relationship between caregiver training and dysphagia outcomes.

Presenter & Disclosures

Melissa Farrow, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Melissa Farrow, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Speech-language Pathologist with expertise in managing disordered swallowing in adults with intellectual disability (ID) and medical complexity. She is a seven-time recipient of ASHA’s Award for Excellence in Continuing Education, an alumnus of ASHA’s Leadership Development Program, and an active member of several organizations dedicated to advancing the art and science of swallowing and advocating for patients with swallowing disorders. Melissa’s clinical practice spans more than a decade in the medical setting. She is currently a SLP for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, caring for those with ID and swallowing disorders. As a clinician-researcher, Melissa investigates the dysphagia management needs of adults with ID and has presented nationally and internationally on these topics.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial – Melissa Farrow is presenter of online CE courses sponsored by Northern Speech Services; receives royalties.

Nonfinancial – Melissa Farrow has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Kristine Goldynia, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Kristine Goldynia, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is the owner/founder of Dysphagia Services of Southeastern Pennsylvania. She works in clinical education and teaches undergrad and graduate courses in speech-language pathology. Kristine serves on the Services Board as a Health Care Specialist within the Arc Alliance. She has extensive clinical experience in dysphagia. Her research goals focus on continuity in the care provided to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and dysphagia.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial — Kristine Goldynia is the presenter of online CE courses sponsored by Northern Speech Services; receives royalties.

Nonfinancial — Kristine Goldynia has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Intended Audience / Accreditation

Intended Audience/Accreditation
asha ce approved provider

This program is offered for 0.45 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area).

Intended Audience

  • Speech-Language Pathologists

ASHA CEUs: NSS online courses are registered with ASHA and are offered for ASHA CEUs. The number of ASHA CEUs is noted above. Note that 0.1 ASHA CEU = 1 contact hour = equals 1 CEE.

ASHA CE Registry: During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you provide your ASHA number, NSS will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on November 7th, NSS will submit all November online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of December. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so November 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, November 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 2-3 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript.

ASHA CEUs: Attendees must meet at least one of the following conditions in order to be eligible to earn ASHA CEUs:

  • Current ASHA Member
  • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) Holder
  • Licensed by a state or provincial regulatory agency to practice speech-language pathology (SLP) or audiology
  • Credentialed by a state regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Credentialed by a national regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Engaged in a Clinical Fellowship under the supervision of an individual with their ASHA CCC
  • Currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in SLP or audiology

If an attendee is not an ASHA member or CCC holder but meets any of the above criteria, they may inform the ASHA CE Registry of their eligibility by visiting this site.

Licensing Boards: Most state licensing boards DO accept CEUs earned online (usually classified as home-study credits). Some state boards do, however, place a limit to the number of credits that can be earned via home study/online courses. For the most current information, we suggest that you contact your licensing board or agency to verify acceptance policies and/or any credit limits related to home-study courses prior to registering for this course.

Additional accrediting agencies by which Northern Speech is an approved CE provider:

  • California: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board. Provider #PDP4. Online CEU limits may apply; please contact SLPAHADB for current online CEU acceptance policies.
  • Iowa: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Iowa Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology Examiners. Provider #169.
  • Kansas: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Provider #LTS-S0005.

Frequently Asked Questions

Online Course FAQ — Click Here

Customer Support: Please phone 888.337.3866 or email info@northernspeech.com.

Course Completion Timeframe:

You have unlimited time to complete our online courses. You may log off and log on as often as you’d like to in order to complete all sections of a course.

However, completion dates are based on Eastern Standard Time. Therefore, if you need your CEUs by a certain date, be sure to complete the course test before 11:59pm EST on that date. For example, if you need CEUs before January 1st, you will need to complete the course test before 11:59pm EST on December 31st.

Content Access:

Access to course materials and content does not expire, even after completing the post test. You may continue to review course material by logging into your NSS account, clicking the My Online Courses tab, and then viewing your desired course.

Certificate of Completion:

On successful completion of the post test (80%), a certificate will be immediately available for download and/or printing. This certificate will include your name, date of completion (based on Eastern Time Zone, USA/Canada), and number of contact hours (CEUs / CEEs). Please note that CEUs are awarded on the date of successful test completion, not the date of course enrollment. Please ensure that you successfully complete the post test prior to any licensure renewal dates.

ASHA CE Registry Submission:

During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you provide your ASHA number, NSS will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on November 7th, NSS will submit all November online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of December. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so November 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, November 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 2-3 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript.

Purchase Orders:

Purchase orders are currently not accepted for online orders, if you wish to submit a purchase order please do so at info@northernspeech.com or fax to 888-696-9655.

What is an Online Course?

Our Online Courses consist of video, audio, and/or text content and are offered for ASHA CEUs. Unlike a webinar, which requires participants to be logged on and at a computer at specific times, our Online Courses are available to you at any time, from any device, via your NorthernSpeech.com online account. You may work at your own pace and start and stop your course as you wish. Your course will conclude with a short post test. On successful completion of the post test (>80%), a printable certificate of completion is presented to you.

Receiving CEUs:

Northern Speech is an ASHA CE Provider and our online courses are registered with ASHA and offered for ASHA CEUs. Please note that successful completion of the online post test is required prior to the awarding of CEUs. Please contact your state licensing board for acceptance policies related to CEUs earned online. Please note that courses offered for university students are not applicable for CEUs.

Registering for an online course:

You may browse all online courses by clicking the Continuing Education tab above, then Online Courses. Once you find a course, click Enroll Now, and you will be asked to either log into your existing Northern Speech account or create a new online account. Once you’ve entered your account information and provided your credit card payment, your course will be immediately available to you.

Accessing your purchased course or returning to a purchased course:

You will be able to access your online course by logging into your Northern Speech account and then clicking the My Online Courses tab on your profile screen. Click the course you would like to start or to resume. From there, proceed through the course sections until you are ready to complete the post test. You do not have to complete your course all at once. You may log on and off as you wish.

Testing requirements:

Each online course concludes with a post test consisting of multiple choice or true & false questions. Scores of 80% or greater are required for successful course completion and awarding of CEUs. You may revisit course materials and retest as needed to achieve a passing score.

Number of CEUs offered:

We offer courses from 1 to 21 contact hours. Each course will note the number of CEUs offered. Please note that 0.1 CEU = 1 contact hour = 1 CEE.

State licensing boards and online CEUs:

NSS is an ASHA CE Provider and most state licensing boards DO accept ASHA CEUs earned online (usually classified as home-study credits). Some boards do, however, place a limit to the number of CEUs that can be earned via home study/online courses. For the most current information, we suggest that you contact your licensing board or agency to verify acceptance policies and/or any CEU limits related to home-study courses prior to enrolling in an online course.

Course formats:

Our course formats include: text, audio, video, and PowerPoint with author narration. Each course will note the format on the course description page. Most courses include closed captioning.

Course handouts:

Most of our online courses provide a link to download the accompanying handout as a PDF file. 

Group discounts:

Groups of 3 or more are eligible for a 20% discount on each registration on most of our online courses. To receive this discount, registrations need to be processed together via the "Group Rates" tab on the Online Course of your choice.

Computer requirements:

For our online courses to function best, we recommend that you update your computer to include the newest version of your Internet browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, etc.) and newest version of your computer's operating system. Also a high-speed Internet connection is recommended (cable or DSL). Speakers or headphones will be required for many of our courses as many contain audio components.

Course Cancellation Policy:

A purchased online course can be exchanged, refunded, or transferred to another individual if contact is made with NSS (via phone or email) within 30 days of purchase and the course materials have not been viewed or downloaded. 

Special Needs:

Please click here for any special needs requests, and we will do our best to accommodate them. 

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