This webinar describes anatomical and physiological structures and functions related to feeding and swallowing to assist clinicians in interpreting evaluation findings and selecting appropriate treatment strategies for students on their caseload. The presenter discusses sensorimotor function of the trunk, shoulders, head, and neck, as well as of the upper aerodigestive tract, and reviews oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal structures and functions. The webinar includes case studies that address the impact of impaired anatomy and physiology in students with feeding and swallowing disorders.

Related Courses

This course is part of Key Courses on Feeding and Swallowing in Schools.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Describe muscle tone and functions of the body that have an impact on feeding and swallowing
• Describe relationship between respiration and swallowing
• Explain the role of the sensory system in feeding/swallowing
• Discuss structures and sensory and motor functions for swallowing
• Explain the impact abnormal anatomy and physiology may have on safe and efficient swallowing

Contents

• Introduction
• Framework of safety and efficiency in eating  
• Looking at the whole child: muscle tone, function, and sensory system
• Anatomy and physiology of upper aerodigestive tract 
• Normal oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal anatomy and physiology for swallowing in school-age children 
• Examples of impaired anatomy & physiology compared to "normal" 

Presenter Information

Nancy B. Swigert, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is president of Swigert & Associates, Inc., providing consulting and teaching. Before retiring, she was the director of Speech-Language Pathology and Respiratory Care at Baptist Health at their acute care facility in Lexington, KY. Prior to that she had a private practice for 25 years. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Life Member). Her main clinical interests are in the area of pediatric and adult dysphagia. She lectures extensively in those areas. The 4th edition of The Source for Dysphagia (ProEd) was released in 2019 and the 3rd edition of The Source for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing will be released in the fall of 2022. She chaired the Health Care Economics Committee for 6 years, ASHA’s Special Interest Group on Swallowing for 3, and the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders for 3. She served as president of ASHA in 1998 and of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation from 2004-2005. She received her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She received the Honors of ASHA in 2015.

Financial Disclosures:

• Author royalties from ProEd for The Source for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing 
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation 

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Board of Arkansas Hands & Voices 

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete and submit the learning assessment by the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Live webinar: August 1, 2022 
End date: August 3, 2027

This course is offered for 0.2 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).