New!
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
Feeding infants with orofacial clefting presents a unique and complex clinical challenge
requiring individualized care strategies and collaborative practice with providers from a
variety of disciplines. The three articles in this SIG 5 activity collectively emphasize the
importance of clinical expertise, evidence-based, and patient- and family-centered
approaches to feeding interventions for this population.
The first article is a qualitative study which explores the current feeding practices
and training experiences of expert healthcare providers (one registered nurse, one nurse
practitioner, and two speech-language pathologists [SLPs]) who work with infants with
cleft lip and/or palate. Through interviews with the four experienced professionals, the
study reveals significant variation in practice approaches, education pathways, and
challenges in interdisciplinary collaboration. Analysis of their qualitative interviews
reveals four sequential themes, (1) Informal Education and Training, (2) Multidisciplinary
Practice Issues, (3) Clinical Decision Making, and (4) Recommendations. The discussion
highlights that all providers relied most heavily on their clinical experience and had a
desire for more formalized training mechanisms in this specialized area of care.
The second article is a clinical focus piece which highlights the value of
collaborative assessments between Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and SLPs
when working with children with cleft lip and/or palate experiencing feeding and growth
challenges. The authors outline recommended materials, intervention timelines, and
assessment tools to guide joint evaluations. Using frequently asked questions,
resources, and case studies, the article demonstrates how combined evaluations
enhanced patient care by addressing both nutritional needs and feeding skill
development. The authors propose that dyadic visits between RDNs and SLPs support a
more holistic, family-centered approach to feeding intervention for patients with clefts.
The third article is a tutorial to help clinicians determine appropriate feeding
methods and interventions for infants with orofacial clefts. It builds upon the oral
peripheral exam as the critical first step to identifying signs of feeding difficulty in this
population. Authors then review cleft-adapted bottle options, flow rates, and strategies to
ensure sufficient nutritional intake, including nipple and infant positioning, milk
fortification, and others. The article emphasizes individualized intervention, thorough
documentation, and the need for ongoing monitoring. This framework is intended as a
starting point for conducting detailed oral exams, customized feeding plans, and to
effectively communicate feeding techniques and rationales to caregivers.
Feeding infants with orofacial clefting involves more than just managing anatomic
challenges—it demands a coordinated, knowledgeable, and compassionate team effort.
The articles in this activity offer valuable insights into current practices, persistent gaps,
and promising strategies that can guide clinicians toward more consistent, effective, and
family-centered care.
New!
Format(s):
eWorkshop
In this course, three SLPs share their perspectives on working with multilingual students and overcoming challenges and barriers to equitable and effective augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions. The course explores practical strategies, tools, and templates to help SLPs engage students and families, support multiple languages in AAC devices for students who are speaking or nonspeaking, and advocate for affirming practices that center the whole child.
New!
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This collection of three SIG 13 articles offers a comprehensive look into recent
research in pediatric dysphagia assessment and management. In the first article, Julian
Bergen Smith and colleagues' qualitative investigation delves into the practices of
hospital-based speech-language pathologists regarding the use of the side-lying position
during modified barium swallow studies for infants. Next, Britt F. Pados and colleagues’
research focuses on the flow rates of bottle nipples with different thicknesses of barium
and infant formula. Finally, Leann Schow Smith and colleagues' article addresses the
unique challenges and considerations of conducting videofluoroscopic swallow studies
with pediatric patients. Collectively, these articles provide valuable insights and practical
recommendations for clinicians working with at-risk infants and children in various
clinical settings
New!
Format(s):
eWorkshop
SLPs need to combine their understanding of physiology with multiple related factors to determine if an instrumental exam is needed, which exam is indicated, when it is needed, and why. Then they must effectively explain recommendations and findings to the patient, family, and other team members. In this course, you'll learn to address the many important factors and improve collaboration, communication, and documentation related to instrumental exams.
New!
Format(s):
eWorkshop
Each adult with dysphagia presents with unique characteristics, each setting provides different challenges, and each treatment team functions in different ways. Therefore, in addition to possessing core knowledge, SLPs need to consider all related factors and apply critical-thinking skills to meet the needs of each patient. In this course, you'll learn to consider these factors through collaboration with the patient, family, and other team members, and enhance communication and documentation of your recommendations.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
Adults who stutter (AWS) are a heterogeneous group in terms of lived experiences and
expectations for treatment. In this SIG 4 activity, learners will read three peer-reviewed
articles that focus on individual experiences of AWS that may lead to individual
preferences in treatment approaches. The first article examines correlations between
stuttering severity and measures of life satisfaction, self-acceptance, self-compassion,
and avoidance among AWS, comparing those who sought support from family, friends,
or the National Stuttering Association to those who did not. The second article focuses
on treatment preferences and reports on a multinational survey study investigating what
AWS consider important aspects of stuttering treatment. The results indicate that, while
most AWS value help with speech strategies and anxiety, there is significant individual
variation in treatment preferences based on factors like gender and geographical region.
Finally, the last article centers on the perceived positive experiences and benefits of
stuttering reported by 77 AWS. The analysis reveals four major themes: development of
skills, qualities, and talents; personal development; coping strategies; and support from
others, highlighting various ways that individuals have found positive meaning in their
stuttering experiences.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This SIG 1 activity addresses how framing early intervention practices to include
partnering with and training caregivers and pediatricians can improve access to
the language and communication opportunities in early childhood. The first article
applies the benefits of the Language Environmental Analysis (LENA) system with
children with cerebral palsy to determine the feasibility of monitoring naturalistic
language patterns during longitudinal mobility intervention. The second article
highlights the importance of monitoring caregiver progress in early intervention
therapy and proposes how to set goals, teach the caregiver language facilitation
strategies using the See and Say Sequence, and measure progress using
various types of caregiver data. The third article explores the emerging role of
speech-language pathologists (SLPs) providing training to improve the use of
developmental screening in pediatric primary care to increase early identification
rates of infants and toddlers.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
The theme for this SIG 14 activity was diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in
communication sciences and disorders (CSD) research and professionalism and
guidance for working with interpreters and translators in speech-language pathology
(SLP). Topics included (a) a review of ASHA publications in 2020 examining participant
gender, race, and ethnicity; (b) considerations for DEI access as it relates to
professionalism; and (c) guidance for working with interpreters and translators in SLP.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
In this SIG 20 activity, authors provide ways for clinicians to improve their ability to
actively cultivate and improve their counseling skills. Caron et al. discuss increasing
resilience in medical clinicians. McGrath and Schultz explain how to improve the
therapeutic alliance when working with rehabilitation clients. Pagano et al. describe how
to improve counseling self-efficacy.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This SIG 11 Perspectives course addresses the necessity of a community-informed, strengths-based approach to health care service provision for individuals with communication disorders, and the impact of relationally focused reflections on improving conflict-handling skills in graduate speech-language pathology students.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
In this SIG 2 activity, participants explore the needs of people with aphasia and other cognitive-communication impairments as they interact with the legal system. The first article is a systematic review that reviews the historic accommodations that have been made to support people with aphasia during court proceedings. Using these, the article provides proactive recommendations for the support of people with aphasia who are involved with legal proceedings. The second article discusses the etiologies and prevalence of cognitive-communication disorders in people who are involved in the criminal justice system. Recommendations are provided for SLPs to participate as a part of the interdisciplinary team working with these youth and adults.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
Case study is a valuable instructional tool for advancing knowledge and skills in clinical practice. In this SIG 4 Perspectives activity, learners will read three peer-reviewed case study presentations emphasizing unique aspects of stuttering treatment in preschool children and adults.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This SIG 9 Perspectives course includes three articles from a forum on pediatric hearing health care disparities. The articles discuss barriers to follow-up in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs; systematic evaluation of family barriers to care; and the principles and implementation of trauma-informed care in pediatric hearing health care.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
The three articles in this SIG 9 Perspectives course focus on parent-reported ADHD behaviors, fatigue, and language in children who are deaf and hard of hearing; physical activity in children with hearing loss; and massive open online courses for critical medical education related to children with hearing loss.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
These SIG 13 articles underscore the importance of being up to date of dysphagia
intervention as the diagnosis has many complexities in assessment and treatment.
Larsen et al. surmise that current characteristics and physiological rationale may
overestimate the skills required for gelatin-based desserts and inappropriately classify
them as nontransitional foods. Therefore, as with all products, individual gelatin-based
desserts should be tested at the time of presentation to the patient. Mancopes et al.
discuss the importance of strategies for facilitating safe and functional bottle feeding in
children with dysphagia include selecting nipples that reduce flow rate, pacing, altered
positioning, and thickening liquid consistencies. Their study aims to determine the
impact of slightly thick liquids on swallowing through retrospective review of a
convenience sample of clinical videofluoroscopies (VFSS) from 60 bottle-fed children (21
male, mean age 9.9 months) referred due to suspected aspiration. Garand et al. perform
a retrospective analysis of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using modified
barium swallow studies and recommend use of functional scales to help evaluate and
treat this special population.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
These SIG 9 articles point to the importance of continued research in listening, literacy, and paternal linguistic input for children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH).
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This trio of SIG 13 articles provides information regarding managing and treating
dysphagia with adult patients. First, Abrams and co-authors underscore the importance
of hydration and discovered that individuals consuming thickened liquids are often at risk
for dehydration. Factors to increase fluid intake through different strategies are
discussed. Next, Arguello and Kerr discuss the mechanism of a facial burn injury and
how it may cause functional impairments that can be directly impacted through early
intervention utilizing speech-language pathology services. Finally, Warner and
colleagues completed a pilot study investigating the prevalence of pretreatment
dysphagia in oncologic patients and individual factors influencing post treatment
dysphagia.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This SIG 11 Perspectives activity addresses the productivity impact of SLPs supervising student clinicians in medical settings and explores graduate students' perceptions of their experiences participating in simulated learning experiences during the pandemic.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This SIG 14 activity reviews recommendations for families raising multilingual children
with autism and examines types of support received by multicultural individuals who
stutter. Topics include (a) a review of recommendations for families raising multilingual
children with autism and (b) concepts of family support in stuttering.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
The theme for this SIG 14 activity is building cultural responsivity in speech and
language services for professionals using simulations and factors related to college
major selection in communication sciences and disorders. Topics include (a) using
simulations for professional development and (b) factors related to college major
selection in communication sciences and disorders.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
In this SIG 2 activity, participants explore innovative articles regarding a range of topics
in the assessment and treatment of motor speech disorders. The first article describes a
case of anarthria in which the speech-language pathologist thoroughly described the
patient’s motor speech presentation, thereby contributing to his overall neurologic
diagnosis. The second article examines the effects of transcranial direct current
stimulation (tDCS), a promising method of eliciting behavior change through brain
stimulation, on the speech of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The third article
explores the speech and language profiles of children with apraxia of speech as their
primary diagnosis, as compared to children with other concomitant diagnoses.
Format(s):
On Demand Webinar
Many clinicians find themselves responsible for supervising students, externs, clinical fellows, other clinicians, or support personnel, but have little or no training on clinical education and supervision. This course presents an updated version of the nine core "building blocks" that are essential elements of every supervision experience.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
In an ever-changing global landscape, it is pertinent that audiologists and speech-language pathologists “account for the complexity and diversity of healthcare contexts” (as stated in the second article by Pillay and Pillay). Pressing concerns related to advancing technology (artificial intelligence and machine learning), culturally responsive practice, and rapid climate change are all trending societal conversations. This SIG 17 self-study explores creative solutions to pressing global issues that impact the field of audiology and speech-language pathology. Topics presented include key ethical concerns regarding hearing aids with machine learning, a novel culturally responsive framework for contextualized clinical reasoning, and the impact of climate change on communication and swallowing disorders.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
The theme for this SIG 14 activity is clinical considerations through paradigm shifts in providing culturally relevant family-centered intervention and instruction. Topics include (a) providing culturally relevant family centered care; (b) second language literacy instruction for multilingual adolescents; and (c) impacts of study abroad experiences on
students’ intercultural competence.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
In “Coupling Hearing Health With Community-Based Group Therapy for Cognitive Health in Low-Income African American Elders,” Postman et al. describe a community-based group intervention to address disparities experienced by African American elders in the early stages of cognitive–communicative decline. The intervention included partnerships with community health centers, culturally informed activities, and ongoing input from staff and participants. The authors describe the advantages of this community-engaged approach, as well as the benefits of joining hearing and cognition for minimizing access barriers. In “Public Health Frameworks in Audiology Education: Rationale and Model for Implementation,” Warren and Levy review how public health education can advance the field of audiology, particularly through coursework and dual degree programs. The authors also describe two frameworks for public health training in an audiology academic setting and identify the competencies that overlap in audiology and public health, helping to illustrate the relevance of public health education in addressing objectives in hearing
health care.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This quartet of SIG 13 articles provides information regarding managing and treating dysphagia in the adult population. Caileen Harvey, Rachel Flemming, Julia Davis, and Victoria Reynolds investigate International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative implementation issues by surveying health care professionals in health care facilities in rural Upstate New York. Ankita M. Bhutada, William A. Broughton, Brenda L. Beverly, Dahye Choi, Sandip Barui, and Kendrea L. (Focht) Garand aim to identify the prevalence of dysphagia and reflux reported symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and determine associations between symptoms and demographic and clinical variables. Stevie Marvin summarizes published research on screening, evaluating, and treating post-extubation dysphagia in the intensive care unit. Rebekah Guastella, Stefania Oppedisano, Luis F. Riquelme, and Ashwini M. Namasivayam-MacDonald study bolus location at swallow onset, stage transition, pharyngeal transition duration, pharyngeal response duration, and pharyngeal phase duration between cued and uncued swallowing conditions in patients with dementia.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
Three clinical practice considerations are reviewed within this course, including communication with patients/families in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, identification of word finding errors in normally aging individuals, and how to address severe tinnitus.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
The articles included here examine the current state of education of three topics within our discipline. DeJarnette and Wegner report on the classroom and clinical training that graduate students in speech-language pathology receive in augmentative and alternative communication. Domholdt and Billings identify associations and disconnects within graduate programs’ interests and practices in teaching population health concepts—that is, clinical care regarding communities and large systems. Finally, Tucker et al. examine practicing audiologists’ and speech-language pathologists’ interests in obtaining a research-based PhD in communication sciences and disorders and barriers to starting and completing a doctoral program.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This trio of SIG 13 articles provides information regarding unique factions of dysphagia intervention. Sophia Werden Abrams, Harmonie S. J. Chan, Jasmeet Sikand, Heather Wilkie, and Kim Smith raise awareness for the importance of neurodegenerative disorder research involving dysphagia caused by oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Michela Jean Mir and Karen Wheeler Hegland aim to shed light on the subjective use of cough assessment and the importance and interest in formal clinical cough assessment training. Kendrea L. (Focht) Garand, Mary Catherine Reilly, Dahye Choi, Rajarshi Dey, Julie Estis, and Grayson Hill evaluate community dwelling adults using Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile components for bolus hold type to assist in defining typical swallowing behaviors.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
The articles in this course present models for increasing equity and inclusion across our discipline. Girolamo and Ghali introduce a student-led grassroots initiative that supports minority students at all levels. Mohapatra and Mohan propose a model for increasing student diversity and inclusion based on successful programs from other health-related disciplines. Finally, Mishra et al. examine three challenges that faculty of color face: cultural competency, imposter syndrome, and racial microaggressions.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This assemblage of articles provides information on interesting topics encountered in adult dysphagia practice. Aarthi Madhavan, Nicole Shuman, Claire Snyder, and Nicole Etter provide insight on the comparative consistency of the Eating Assessment Tool and Sydney Swallow Questionnaire scores for self-reported swallowing difficulties in a group of community-dwelling older adults completing both questionnaires. Georgina Papadopoulos-Nydam, Jana Maureen Rieger, and Gabriela Constantinescu evaluate the usability of a mobile health (mHealth) system designed for dysphagia exercise in persons with a history of stroke. Renata Mancopes, Fernanda Borowsky da Rosa, Lidia Lis Tomasi, Adriane S. Pasqualoto, and Catriona M. Steele demonstrate concern for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and share information regarding dysphagia in people with COPD, synthesizing knowledge both from the literature and from studies performed in the context of a multidisciplinary clinical pulmonary rehabilitation program abroad. Additionally, Talia H. Schwartz brings to light the importance and utility of the clinical swallow evaluation while caring for patients with COVID-19.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
These SIG 8 Perspectives articles focus on topics that are important in promoting public health audiology. In “Fundamentals of Epidemiology for the Audiologist,” Torre and Reavis provide an overview of basic epidemiologic concepts including study design, prevalence, incidence, risk ratios, and odds ratios. The authors emphasize that an understanding of epidemiology is crucial for audiologists for a variety of reasons, including to help them assess the quality of publications, evaluate and discuss the efficacy of screening methods, and evaluate and communicate risk factors for ear and hearing problems. In “Hearing Health Care Delivery Outside the Booth,” Gates, Hecht, Grantham, Fallon, and Martukovich review the literature on boothless audiometry and introduce current tools used to deliver hearing health care outside of the traditional clinic setting. From their review, the authors conclude that boothless audiometry technology provides an opportunity for audiologists to expand services to nontraditional settings such as waiting grooms and nursing homes, increasing access to care, early identification, and intervention, and therefore improving health outcomes.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
These articles show the breadth of topics relevant to the understanding and treatment of fluency and fluency disorders. The articles include topics on the impact of allergies on the sleep of children who stutter and using solution-focused principles to elicit perspectives on therapeutic change in older children who stutter and their parents.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
The theme for this Perspectives course is clinical considerations in assessment of children and adults from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds and providing culturally supporting treatment settings. Topics include (a) acoustic parameters of retroflex sounds, (b) the two-question method for assessing gender identity, (c) assessment recommendations for new language learners, and (d) creating culturally supportive settings to foster literacy development.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
These three articles describe current issues and advances related to hearing diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. The first article is a detailed description of the impact that COVID-19 face masks and social distancing regulations have had on speech recognition and how face masks affect the acoustic signal and increase cognitive effort in listeners with hearing loss. Suggestions for mitigating these deleterious impacts on communication are provided. The second article is a research study examining the correlation between self-perceived hearing difficulty, determined using a questionnaire (Adult Auditory Performance Scale), and speech-in-noise performance (Listening in Spatialized Noise–Sentences Test) in listeners with normal pure-tone thresholds. Results highlight the relationship between self-perceived hearing abilities and binaural speech-in-noise performance supporting the inclusion of speech-in-noise testing even in those with normal pure-tone thresholds. The third article is a review of current genetic, stem cell, and pharmacotherapy research for treatment and prevention of hearing loss. Animal models are discussed, as well as steps to translate this research into clinical practice.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This SIG 11 Perspectives activity presents two unique articles related to enhancing relationships in supervisory and work settings. The first article highlights specific skills sets required for clinical providers and describes primary performance indicators (PPIs) that are critical to building effective working relationships. In the second article, the authors detail the findings of a study on similarities and differences in work ethic among three generations of speech-language pathologists.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This course is composed of three articles that center around quality of life: at end of life, following a stroke, and among individuals with voice disorders.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
In this series of articles, the need for clear guidelines in graduate education on the topic of transgender voice and communication is explored through an e-survey. Considerations for culturally competent voice care is presented in the context of two case studies. Case studies are also used to highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary gender affirming approach for successful voice care with adolescence. In the final article, a voice technique is adapted for voice masculinization.
Format(s):
SIG Perspectives
This SIG 16 Perspectives course highlights novel approaches to eligibility decision-making, intervention, and the roles and responsibilities of school-based SLPs. Articles discuss how to utilize a design thinking framework when making eligibility recommendations for children with oral and written language disorders; using electropalatographic therapy for the remediation of speech sound disorders; and ideas of how to prepare to be a fact witness or an expert witness if called to testify in a special education dispute or civil litigation case.
Format(s):
Journal (Online)
This journal self-study focuses on rationale and techniques for enhancing clinicians’ cultural competence when working in Native American and tribal communities. The articles, originally published in a 2016 issue of Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups (SIG 14, Cultural and Linguistic Diversity), address the lasting impact of historical trauma on health and education; the importance of differentiated instruction; the perspective of a student with hearing loss who experiences traditional cultural education; and speech-language intervention programs and services in Native communities.
Format(s):
Journal (Online)
Clinical practice for SLPs in health care settings has changed dramatically – and continues to evolve – due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This journal self-study highlights evidence-based best practices and considerations for clinicians providing care to patients with voice and upper airway disorders, tracheostomy, and head and neck cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic to maximize patient and clinician safety while ensuring efficacious care.
Format(s):
On Demand Webinar
This course illustrates how SLPs can develop appropriate, evidence-based, and practical treatment plans for patients with dysphagia based on the results of instrumental swallow assessments. The speaker discusses case studies involving the use of various assessments, including videofluoroscopy, endoscopy, and high-resolution manometry.
Best Seller
Format(s):
Streaming Video
A thorough cranial nerve examination is an essential part of the speech-language pathologist’s evaluation of every patient. When performed, it is useful in the diagnosis of speech and swallowing disorders, and accurate diagnosis is crucial for development of a targeted, individualized treatment plan. This video course provides an overview of the neuroanatomy and physiology of the cranial nerve examination. Participants will receive detailed instructions for testing and interpreting findings of the cranial nerve examination. The course also describes common abnormalities observed for patients with impairment of cranial nerve function.
Best Seller
Format(s):
Streaming Video
Young children with communication impairments, especially language disorders, face elevated risks in developing reading problems. SLPs play an important role in helping young children with language disorders develop foundational literacy skills that can enhance their literacy and reading trajectories. This video course provides evidence-based guidance on how to modify treatment to improve the foundational literacy skills of young children with language disorders.
Best Seller
Format(s):
Streaming Video
An information-rich videofluoroscopic assessment can help clinicians determine which components of the complex oropharyngeal swallow need to be targeted for intervention. Visualizing all of the elements that contribute to a well-integrated or disordered swallow mechanism requires an ordered and disciplined review. This video course demonstrates methods to enhance clinicians' ability to perform a videofluoroscopic assessment and discern the discrete elements of the oropharyngeal swallow. Participants can practice determining the integrity or disorder of the swallow mechanism by viewing and interpreting case study video.
Best Seller
Format(s):
Streaming Video
This video program examines how SLPs can better manage children with highly unintelligible speech who are making very slow progress. The presentation provides a framework – the evidence-based cycles phonological pattern remediation approach – for evaluating and enhancing optimal phonological patterns.
|
