Course Information

LIVE WEBINAR SEPTEMBER 17TH. CAN'T MAKE THE LIVE WEBINAR. NO WORRIES! REGISTER FOR THE RECORDED WEBINAR OFFERED SEPTEMBER 18TH - 30TH. LAST DAY TO REGISTER IS SEPTEMBER 30TH. POST-TEST MUST BE COMPETED BY SEPTEMBER 30TH.

Course Cost

$50

Course Description

Neuroprotective interventions that promote safe, efficient, and developmentally supportive feeding opportunities are critical for optimizing long-term developmental outcomes for all premature and medically complex infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Infants born extremely pre-term or with certain medical diagnoses are known to be especially at risk for both acute and long-term feeding and swallowing problems. Being able to identify infants who require instrumental swallowing evaluations is critical when working with fragile feeders in the NICU and for developing safe and supportive feeding care plans in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. This course will discuss best practices for utilizing instrumentation (modified barium swallow studies/MBSS and flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing/FEES) for further assessment of swallow function to guide development and management of the feeding plan of care within the NICU setting with a focus on high-risk infants. Utilization of the clinical bedside evaluation, collaboration with the medical team, using risk/benefit analysis to guide clinical decision making, and navigating discharge challenges will also be covered through a lens of family-centered care. Case studies will be presented to enhance critical thinking and application of knowledge.


Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify 5 medical diagnoses known to place infants at higher risk for dysphagia and airway invasion during oral feeds
  2. State the advantages and limitations for MBSS
  3. State the advantages and limitations for FEES
  4. Describe at least 2 ways that conducting an instrumental swallow study can help develop or advance an infant’s feeding plan of care



Time Ordered Agenda


  • 11:00   Introduction/Agenda/Learning objectives
  • 11:10   Review of comprehensive beside evaluation: identifying high-risk infants, communicating recommendations
  • 11:30   Instrumental assessment: study selection, timing of study, risk/benefit analysis, recommendations for follow-up
  • 12:10   Case Studies
  • 12:50   Questions
  • 1:00     Adjourn




Joining the Webinar

You will find information on how to join and complete this live webinar and webinar recording  in the course portal located on our Thinkific dashboard once you complete the course registration. One the day of the webinar please log in approximately 10 minutes before the start time to ensure you do not have any technical challenges.

Webinar Notice

Successful participation in this course includes completion of the post-test with a score of 80% or higher, then participants will automatically receive a course completion certificate.  

This course is offered for 2.0 Professional Development Hours. We can report your participation to ASHA if you choose for 0.2 ASHA CEUs, just be sure to include your ASHA number when you register. If you do not want your participation reported to ASHA, you have the option to decline on the course registration page. 

Refund Policy

There are no refunds for this course, as it is offered both live and as a recording for a limited time.


If you have any questions or concerns please email [email protected] or call 877-390-1887.

Instructor(s)

MA, CCC-SLP Julie Foreman

Julie Foreman, MA, CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with 16 years of clinical experience working with neonates, medically fragile infants, and children with a variety of developmental needs in both the outpatient pediatric setting and the neonatal intensive care unit. She obtained her Master’s in speech-language pathology in 2008 from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Since 2013 she has been working with the neonatal population with feeding and swallowing difficulties by providing bedside swallow evaluations, parent education, and instrumental testing including modified barium swallow studies and FEES (fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) at a level 4 neonatal intensive care unit at St David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas. She is a privileged endoscopist for NICU FEES and helped to develop and implement the neonatal FEES program at St. David’s. She holds a certification in PROMPT and is an active member of NANT and ASHA. Ms. Foreman receives financial compensation for the creation and presentation of this course.

M.S., CCC-SLP, CNT Alissa Bobek

Alissa Bobek, M.S., CCC-SLP, CNT is a medical speech-language pathologist who has been serving complex patients in the acute care and ICU settings since 2006. She earned her B.S. in Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Purdue University. Alissa developed a passion for dysphagia evaluation and intervention while working with adult patients in the ICU, and in 2011 trained to transition to the neonatal ICU where she currently provides services to infants with feeding and swallowing disorders. Alissa is a senior speech-language pathologist and certified neonatal therapist on the developmental therapy team in the Level IV NICU at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, TX. She is a member of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and is currently serving as a subject matter expert for the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board. Alissa is passionate about neuroprotective care, supporting breastfeeding in premature and medically complex infants, empowering parents/caregivers, and mentoring other SLPs. Ms. Bobek receives financial compensation for the creation and presentation of this course.