Course Description

For SLPs who treat head and neck cancer patients, treating dysphagia is often an evolutionary battle that starts before patients undergo cancer treatment and persists long after patients have received their final cancer treatments. The clinician’s greatest challenge is understanding, preparing the patient for, and addressing the cancer treatment’s extensive list of short and long-term effects on the patient’s swallow function. This two-hour webinar will highlight the most current, evidence-based practices for providing effective, patient-centered dysphagia interventions in the head and neck cancer patient population.

Learning Objectives

• Interpret pertinent cancer treatment information during medical chart review.
• Describe Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome, how it differs from fibrotic scars, and the rehabilitation principles for treating a radiation-induced dysphagia patient.
• List clinical swallowing assessment tools and resources appropriate for head and neck cancer patients.
• Identify dysphagia interventions for head and neck cancer patients most supported by current research in the field of SLP and cancer rehabilitation.
• List appropriate multi-disciplinary referrals relevant to function and quality of life for head and neck cancer patients with dysphagia based on the latest American Cancer Society Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care Guidelines.

Agenda

• 00:00-00:20    The Importance of the HNC Patient Medical Chart Review
• 00:20-00:50    Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome’s Impact on Dysphagia Rehabilitation 
• 00:50-01:10     Assessing the HNC Patient’s Swallow Function
• 01:10-01:30    “Evidence-based” HNC Dysphagia Interventions 
• 01:30-01:45    The “Whole-System Approach” to HNC Patients 
• 01:45-02:00    Summary and Post-Test

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.  You will have access to the course for 365 days after registration.

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 

No refunds for self-study courses.

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