This course explores case examples of patients with functional speech disorders—a subcategory of functional neurologic disorder (FND). The course contains an American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology article, an ASHA Voices podcast episode, and an ASHA Leader article. The authors and speaker highlight the challenges of diagnosis and management of patients with these disorders.

Learning Outcomes    
You will be able to:

• Describe interdisciplinary management approaches for people with FND, including the SLP’s role in comprehensive care and referral pathways
• Describe the presentations/features that support a differential diagnosis of FND
• Explain why patients with FND may improve with speech-language intervention tailored to support functional gains

Contents

The following are included in this course:

• An Overlooked Speech Disorder Solves a Diagnostic Mystery, The ASHA Leader Live, November 15, 2023. By Joseph R. Duffy    
  https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.FTR1.28112023.slp-diagnosis-mystery.42/full/
• Understanding, Recognizing, and Managing Functional Speech Disorders: Current Thinking Illustrated With a Case Series, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Volume 31, Issue 3, Pages 1205-1220, May 2022. By Rene L. Utianski and Joseph R. Duffy    
  https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00366
• ASHA Voices: Stories from a Career Addressing Clinical Mysteries, ASHA Voices podcast (audio recording), November 10, 2023, interview with Joe Duffy,    
  https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/2023-1109-podcast-slp-motor-speech-duffy/full/

Presenter Information

Joe Duffy, PhD, CCC-SLP, is professor emeritus in speech pathology in the Department of Neurology at Mayo Clinic.

Disclosures:

• None

Rene L. Utianski, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is a consultant in the Division of Speech Pathology at Mayo Clinic.

Disclosures:

• Salary from Mayo Clinic, a portion of which is paid by NIH for research not relevant to this article

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 the learning assessment by 11:59 p.m. ET on the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Start date: November 3, 2025    
End date: November 3, 2030

This course is offered for 0.25 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).
Subject code 3030 Acquired and Degenerative Language Disorders

Additional ASHA Resource

• ASHA Evidence Map: Functional Neurological Disorder