PFTC™ Library Feed The Peds® CPFT™ Certification

Swallow Dysfunction & Treatment: Oral vs Pharyngeal vs Esophageal Phase

6 Hours, 0.6 ASHA AND AOTA CEUs 

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This course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of swallow dysfunction and treatment strategies in pediatric patients breaking it down into the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases of the swallow. The topics covered include; optimal management of feeding & swallowing in pediatrics, neural plasticity of swallow function and how it impacts approach to treatment, common etiology of swallow dysfunction, clinical assessment, instrumental assessment, identification of risk factors, management of types of swallowing dysfunction, aspiration in pediatrics, therapeutic strategies/types of intervention, diet modification, thickening feeds, considerations for thickener use based on age, considerations in approach to treatment strategies.

MEET OUR PRESENTER: 

Courtney Richards M.S., CCC-SLP, CLC
 

Courtney is a pediatric feeding therapist and certified lactation counselor. She received her Masters of Science from New York University. She has been an ASHA certified therapist since 2019 and is a 3-time ASHA ACE award recipient related to courses focused on pediatric feeding. Courtney is the lead feeding therapist at Advanced Therapy Solutions (ATS) in Clarksville, TN where she manages the feeding team across 3 locations. She conceptualized and implemented a robust clinical competency program at ATS which therapists are required to complete to begin treating pediatric feeding patients. She maintains a full feeding caseload and specializes in working with medically complex cases and infant feeding. Courtney co-founded the infant feeding team at ATS- which utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to remediating early feeding difficulties at the breast and bottle. Outside of her clinical work, Courtney serves as an Adjunct Professor at Austin Peay State University, where she created and instructs the graduate-level course on pediatric feeding and swallowing.

TIME ORDERED AGENDA & LEARNING OBJECTIVES

0-60 minutes: Overview on phases of the swallow, anatomy & physiology (oral to esophageal), , cranial nerves for swallowing, the process of swallowing, considerations for optimal management of swallow dysfunction, principals of neuroplasticity to improve feeding and swallow function

61-150 minutes: Oral phase of the swallow, oral phase swallow difficulties in infants vs. adolescents, oropharyngeal dysphagia, etiologies of oral dysphagia, oral sensorimotor response, oral sensorimotor treatment approaches/intervention, considerations for approach to treatment, Case study: practice in developing a treatment plan

151-240 minutes: Oropharyngeal dysphagia – focus on pharyngeal phase of the swallow, etiology of aspiration, types of aspiration, risk factors for pulmonary compromise with aspiration, aspiration of liquids – current best practice (adults vs. pediatrics), management of aspiration (broken down by types), dysphagia management/interventions, diet modifications, utensil considerations, Case Study: clinical decision making based on instrumental assessment  

241-300 minutes: Aspiration of thin liquids- deep dive into research, a systematic process for weaning (SPW) from thickened liquids (article review), thickening feeds for treatment of dysphagia in infants, thickening feeds for treatment of adolescents, thin liquid trials in pediatrics, thickening feeds for treatment of reflux (infants), consideration for types of thickener (based on age)

301-360 minutes: Esophageal dysphagia, overview of esophageal anatomy, s/s of esophageal dysphagia, etiologies for esophageal dysphagia, associated diagnostic testing for esophageal dysphagia, when to refer based on clinical presentations, considerations in approach to treatment, Case study: esophageal dysphagia

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES 

After completion of course participants will be able to: 

  • Compare appropriate therapeutic interventions as it relates to the different phases of the swallow.
  • Analyze scientific evidence for the treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia in pediatric populations.
  • Choose an appropriate thickening agent based on a child’s age.
  • Demonstrate how different therapeutic interventions can be used for remediation of swallowing dysfunction as it relates to the different phases of the swallow to increase clients participation in ADLs 
Enroll Now

This course is offered for 0.6 ASHA CEUs (Advanced Level, Professional Area). 

AOTA CEUs are available for 6 contact hours in Service Delivery & Foundational Knowledge.

Please note if any accommodations are needed to access the learning experience or resource materials, please email [email protected] to discuss further.