Hello fellow SLPs,

 

Below is the 2014 ASHA CEUs brochure for Dysphagia Seminars offered in Morristown, NJ. These evidence-based seminars on Pediatric/NICU Swallowing and Pediatric Video Swallow Studies have been well-received coast to coast.

 

Conference Location:

Morristown Medical Center
100 Madison Avenue   Morristown, NJ 07960  

Conference will be Auditorium A-B in Jefferson Building Level B

Start/End Times:

Registration: 745-820 am      Seminars: 830-430pm

 

I am trying to get the word out to SLPs, as this is much needed and sought after information for the infants and children you may serve or hope to serve in the future.

 

Thank you for sharing this information with your colleagues!

 

I hope you can join us!

 

Sincerely,

 

Catherine

Catherine S. Shaker, MS/CCC-SLP, BRS-S

Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

ASHA Board Recognized Specialist – Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders

ASHA CE Provider

www.Shaker4SwallowingandFeeding.com

(206) 949-7630

 

 

  

 

 

 

WE ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE OUR NEWEST COURSE GOING "LIVE" RIGHT NOW.

Speech Language Pathology CEU Course Information: 
Course # AAVZ 0009

"The iPad: Technology Tool for Communication and Language"

Course Presenter:
First and foremost, Karen Velocci, is a parent of a 16 year old son with autism. Additionally, she is the President of SI Services, Inc. a technology integration company founded in 1988, which served to support school districts in network and internet connectivity as well as Student Information System management. The company has a Technology Learning Lab, where they offer programs that range from introductory iPAD training to in depth customization for curriculum development for parents and professionals at all levels
Karen has been the Director of Technology for the Autism Cares Foundation based in Richboro PA for the past five years, and currently offers a full range of educational programming for parents and professionals in the field of autism. She has a degree in Early Childhood Development from Penn State University. Furthermore, she was chosen to beta test the Proloquo2G0 communication app prior to the App Store release in 2009. This is a symbol-supported communication app for people who cannot speak. She has lectured at Rider University discussing the collaboration between families and teachers for building a successful partnership in education.

PLEASE VISIT: CEUALLIEDHEALTH.COM FOR DETAILS OR CONTACT CEUCUSTOMERCARE@GMAIL.COM

How is it that we come to understand a child’s challenging behaviors?  In addressing a typical child’s challenging behaviors we do not jump to implement an ABA program, although one could ask; “Why not?”  With typical children and typical “challenging behaviors” the clinical approach utilizes a psycho-dynamic understanding.  We examine the history of the child’s emotional world and come to understand his behavior in the context of that world.  That is in the context of; who the parentsare and how they address or fail to address the child’s needs is examined.  How the child with the challenging behaviors views his parents is examined, understood and addressed in therapy.  A great many interventions also include behavioral interventionssuch as changing parent to child interactions and/or the environment.

I have spoken with hundreds of administrators and clinicians over the years and when we talk about a child’s challenging behaviors we refer to the interactions between themselves and the child along with their feelings and what we think the child isfeeling.  The dialogue invariably includes the impact pro and con of the parents and how they contribute to the child’s behavior, albeit unaware and unintentionally.  We understand the parents’ contributions of a child’s behavior in large part based on our understanding of the emotional world of the child.  Thisemotional world includes all significant adults and siblings.  

Yet, this emotional world is not addressed frequently enough in the world of child who has special needs and who is receivingservices via, early intervention, CPSE and CSE.  When working with children we address the developmental delays most often with interventions consistent with Applied Behavior Analysis.  When a special needs child is demonstrating Challenging Behaviors we have many issues to sort out.  We have to considerhow much of the behavior can be assign to;

•the biological disability, i.e., Autism, PDD, SID, ADD, ADHD developmental delays and so on?

•other potential underlying developmental issues?

•the child's feelings.  What feeling is the child trying to communicate?

•the child’s thoughts?

•the dynamics between all significant others?

•the physical and social environment?

•the child identifying with either parent and being like the parent?

Based on our understanding of the primary contributors of any given challenging behavior we begin to intervene in a systemic manner addressing the causes of the challenging behaviors.  Inthe world of typical children the approach is psychodynamicverses the world of children with special needs, the approach is behavioral.  Dare I ask; “Is the educational system discriminating?  Where is the therapy, psychodynamic intervention for the child with special needs?  

If you have a child in your practice who is demonstrating challenging behaviors and need help understanding the behavior and how to intervene please consider the emotional communication of the behaviors.  Parents too have to be willing to examine what the challenging behaviors are about beyond the manifest diagnosis their child has been given.    

As always I am available for consultation.

Adam J. Holstein, P.D., L.P.

Psychoanalyst/Behavior Therapist

Cell:  516.297.5705

www.BehaviorTherapists.org

Adam@BehaviorTherapists.org

 

SWALLOW ASSESSMENT IN THE LONG TERM ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL: MORE THAN JUST AN EVALUATION FOR ASPIRATION

 

Within the long term acute care hospital (LTACH) setting, the SLP has a role as specialist for helping determine aspiration risk in dysphagia patients. There is a large portion of SLP training and clinical practice which addresses assessment and treatment of aspiration risk. Clinical experience has shown that assessment of dysphagia spans beyond the evaluation of aspiration risk. Within the LTACH setting, proper assessment of malnutrition risk and dehydration risk are of paramount importance in the medically fragile LTACH patient. It is critical to provide an examination that addresses more than whether a patient is aspirating or not.

 

Within the LTACH, there is a greater length of average patient stay than typical acute care and the patients still require medically intensive care. Many of these patients are tracheostomy and ventilator dependent and have wounds and pressure ulcers. It is a complex patient population to manage. The staff relies on the recommendations from the SLP to help guide patient treatment regarding oral intake and non-oral intake. These medically fragile patients require a team approach concept to ensure resolution of their deficits. The feeding recommendations from the SLP can impact the patient’s nutrition and hydration status, as well as their aspiration risk.

 

According to the ASHA speech language pathology medical review guidelines from swallowing, treatment is provided to help prevent nutrition and hydration problems.  This involves, according to these guidelines, patient assessment of the ability to eat safely and to sustain nutrition and hydration. The SLP should consider that thepresence of malnutrition can be an aspiration risk predictor.Research has been conducted to determine the characteristics of patients that are at risk to aspirate. One trait that has been correlated frequently with aspiration risk is neurological disease. In addition to neurological disease, the presence of malnutrition has now been found to be a trait in patients that are at risk to aspirate.

Bouchard et al (2009) reported that among patients with aspiration pneumonia assessed, 80% of these patients with aspiration pneumonia were also malnourished as determined by a dietitian. The presence of malnutrition may be a risk predictor for developing pneumonia in elderly patients.  

 

In the LTACH, patients in a weakened and malnourished state can become prone to having reduced resistance for battling infection rendering then immunosuppressed. The patients typically present with a common appearance in these scenarios. The patient’s develop oral bacteria and generally maintain an open mouth posture at rest with a visible reduced frequency of spontaneous saliva swallows. As these malnourished patients become weaker, there is often an impact to awareness and wakefulness. Then these patients develop retained airway secretions, as the ability to mobilize secretions becomes more impaired with further decline in cough ability and airway clearance. There may be audible rhonchi in these situations. Extra focus in the LTACH must be given to maintaining good oral hygiene and the monitoring of patient’s temperature, lung, dietary, and weight status.

 

ASHA addresses the SLP’s role in the nutritional management of the dysphagia patient. The Roles of Speech-Language Pathologists in Swallowing and Feeding Disorders: Technical Report indicates several SLP responsibilities in reference to not only aspiration risk, but also regarding nutritional issues. The ASHA report requires the SLP to consider the patient’s endurance and meal length as conditions that should be involved in the SLP decision-making process for feeding recommendations.  ASHA’s report also describes SLP’s role in recommending non-oral intake support in relation to the patient maintaining optimal nutrition and hydration. ASHA indicates in this report that the SLP is part of the decision making team for nutrition should help determine whether non-oral intake support is temporary or more long term. There are several measures taken in the LTACH to monitor and maintain nutrition levels in dysphagia patients.

 

One of the methods used by the LTACH staff to track oral intake patterns is through the use of a calorie count. This is a method to document the portion of meals consumed for the patients at risk for malnutrition, with dysphagia. Calorie counts are monitored by physicians, nursing, SLP, and the dietitian. Calorie count sheets are generally filled in at the time of the meal by the nurse, nursing assistant, therapist, or family members assisting in the patient’s meal. The calorie count is not the only determining factor used for measuring oral intake levels. These calorie counts tend to be more subjective and are not always entirely accurate measures. Based on clinical experience, these calorie counts can be applied as one tool in a battery of exams when assessing the malnourished patient. It is important to have SLP involvement in the calorie count, as there may be need for dietary consistency modification and training for safe feeding measures and aspiration precautions. Another measure used in the LTACH setting are appetite stimulants.

 

The most frequent appetite stimulant used in this clinician’s facilities is Megace.

This can help avert or rectify weight loss in the malnourished patient.

Oxandrin is another separate medication used during the management of the malnourished patient. This medication can be used to help with weight gain in malnourished patients with pressure ulcers who have endured weight loss.

Clinical experience has shown that the physicians mayprovide these types of medications to malnourished patientsduring times of reduced oral intake.

These orally routed medicinal interventions are typically attempted by the physicians prior to non-oral intake measures being implemented. This includes oral nutritional supplementation.

 

Beneprotein is a protein powder and can be used with oral feeding patients who are malnourished in the LTACH. This powder can generally be combined with foods and liquids. This contains 6 grams of protein, has 25 calories and is 99% Whey protein. Magic cup is a frequently used nutritional supplement in the LTACH with malnourished patients that have dysphagia. This is an ice cream cup 4 oz with 290 calories and 9 grams of protein. This is a high calorie supplement that can be instrumental improving the nutritional parameters of malnourished patients. This ice cream can be consumed when frozen and does not melt to thin liquid. Instead, it becomes pudding and can be used with most dysphagia patients. BOOST pudding is a frequently used nutritional supplement in the LTACH setting. The pudding consistency is often used for dysphagia patients that cannot tolerate thin liquids. This 5 oz supplement has 240 calories and 7 grams of protein.

 

Data suggests that the route of nutrient administration influences the body’s response to injury (Pompeo, 2009). Patients with pressure ulcers and other complex problems are particularly prone to nutritional deficits (Salva et al., 2009).

Study data indicate that the challenge to achieve an optimal nutritional status in these patients is significant (Pompeo, 2009). In the presence of a functioning gastrointestinal tract, patients who are unable to meet their nutritional needs orally may require enteral tube feeding. Access to the gastrointestinal system is via naso-gastric, naso-intestinal, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy. Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) is the preferred method when long-term feeding is needed (Fergunson et al 2000).

 

Naso-gastric tube is passed through the nose, through the pharynx, through the esophagus and into the stomach.These are not meant to be used for long term needs.Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a surgically placed feeding tube in the stomach which can be used forlong term needs if necessary. Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy is similar to PEG placement except the tube is placed directly into the middle portion of the small intestine (jejunum). The nasojejunal tube is passed the same route as the naso-gastric but enters the jejunum.  The nasoduodenal  tube is also passed the same route as ng tube but enters the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. These all use enteral feeding for nutrition via the gastro-intestinal tract.

 

TPN is total parenteral nutrition. This is used in the patients who are not having oral intake and cannot have tube feeding for other medical reasons. This is done through a central venus catheter which delivers liquid nutritional support through a central vein. TPN can be used for long term use if needed. It is combination of proteins, vitamins, and other nutritional requirements. PPN is partial parenteral nutrition. This is used for more short term needs, with some patients who can take some oral nutrition but not enough for sufficient intake.

 

Dehydration is common in malnourished patients with pressure ulcers (Fergunson et al 2000). Dehydration reduces the amount of oxygen, nutrients and cell-building substances to the wound because of its effect on blood volume and circulation, (Campbell  et al. 1997). The age-related decrease in total-body water (relative and absolute) makes elderly persons markedly susceptible to stresses in water balance (Kugler et al. 2000). Fluid is an essential nutrient for the normal functioning of cells and is especially important for older adults because of their increased risk for dehydration.  A number of factors increase the risk of dehydration in the elderly. These include inadequate intake, poor appetite, compounded by chronic illnesses such as diabetes (Mayo Clinic, 2009).  It is critical for the SLP to be aware of the consequences of inadequate fluid intake to assist in the prevention of pressure ulcers.

DYSPHAGIA ASSESSMENT IN LONG TERM ACUTE CARE: MORE THAN JUST EVALUATING FOR ASPIRATION RISK

 

 

Many elderly patients have aspiration risk and require thickener in the liquid as an anti-aspiration measure. Many of these same patients are also unable to take the liquids independently and are completely reliant on others forfeeding assistance. Clinical experience has shown that these patients may refuse thick liquids because of taste, which can impact hydration. Some patients may also take longer to consume liquids with a need for slower feeding to avoid aspiration. This too can impact total liquid consumed.Patients who are receiving thickened liquids should begiven routine re-assessment to determine if they still require the liquid thickener. Patients may require intravenous fluids at times, should oral hydration intake by insufficient. There are times when patients will take thin liquid despite the known aspiration risk they may have. In this instance, the SLP and physician consults with the patient and the family if indicated, to explain the aspiration risk. This allows patients and their families to make informed decisions about patient care.

 

The SLP has a unique role in the LTACH. The SLP, along with the physicians, nurses, and nutritionists work closely together to monitor nutrition and hydration status of patients. The patients have an average length of stay of 25-30 days in the LTACH, based on national averages, which is typically longer than the acute care stay.  As a member of the nutritional team for these patients, the SLP must have a fine balance between restoring and managing patient dysphagia function. Therapeutic exercise and skilled mealtime interventions are typically both required. The most frequent obstacle encountered in terms of maintaining patient nutrition and hydration is generally reduced patient endurance and subsequent fatigue with meals. This situation may require smaller, more frequent meals during the day.

 

SLP may need to assess the effect of nutritional supplementation consistencies on dietary intake in critically ill elderly patients. This may be happening while the patient is simultaneously being monitored for their ability to sustain a compensatory posture in order to consume sufficient quantities of the nutritional supplement. Another large part of the LTACH treatment is family education, as many of the families stay at the facility and maintain a role as primary caregiver during meals. Their role in understanding patient’s nutritional and hydration needs as well as compensatory swallowing strategies is critical.Equally important to the family education is the education of the nursing staff. SLP will rely on the nursing observations in terms of dietary consistency tolerance, nutritional pattern changes in patients, and changes in aspiration risk behaviors. Ongoing communication with the nursing staff is critical to track patient’s oral intake needs.

 

Given that the speech language pathologist in medical dysphagia care has frequent recommendations that can impact nutrition and hydration, it is critical that the SLP becomes aware of the potential impact of their recommendations, beyond assessing aspiration risk.

 

 

http://www.asha.org/policy/TR2001-00150/

 

Bouchard, J. (2009). Association between aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition in patients from active geriatric units. Canadian Journal of dietetic practice and research, 70(3), 152-154.

 

(Speech-language pathology medical review guidelines published by the American Speech Language Hearing Association, September 15, 2008).

 

Salva, A. et al.  (2009). Nutritional assessment of residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFS): Recommendations of the task force on nutrition and aging. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 13(6), 475-483.

 

Pompeo, M. (2009) Misconceptions about protein requirements for wound healing: Results of a prospective study. Ostomy Wound Management, 53(8). www.o-wm.com.

 

Fergunson, M. et al (2000). Pressure ulcer management: The importance of nutrition. Med surge Nursing, 9(4), 163-177.

 

Campbell, S. M. et al. (1997). Enteral Nutrition Handbook. Columbus, OH: Ross Products Division, Abbott Laborator.

 

Kugler, J. et al. (2000) Impact of aging on water metabolism. The American Academy of Family Physician. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from www.aafp.org.

 

Mayo Clinic (2009). Dehydration. Retrieved July 14, 2009, from www.MayoClinic.com

 

 

WRITTEN BY:

Dr Eric Blicker MA CCC-SLP.D BCS-S