$39.00 USD

98% rating - reviews

0.15  ASHA CEUs

Oral Mechanism / Cranial Nerve Examination: What Every SLP Needs To Know #e72


Presenter: Kellyn Dailey Hall, PhD, CCC-SLP

Step-by-step instructions for performing and interpreting an oral mechanism and cranial nerve exam.


"The step by step breakdown of cranial nerves assessed through each oral motor task was helpful for my daily practice. I liked the course format."

– S.S., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

An oral mechanism examination, an essential part of every speech/language and swallowing assessment, contributes information for the medical evaluation of every client. It is designed to assess the physical condition and function of the mouth and related structures. When performed as part of a cranial nerve exam, it can be used to diagnose the causes of many different kinds of speech/language and swallowing disorders and drive therapeutic interventions.

This course provides participants with step-by-step instructions for performing and interpreting a quick, yet thorough, oral mechanism and cranial nerve exam across all ages. Includes specific guidelines and examples for interpreting and reporting results.

Course is offered for 0.15 ASHA CEUs – 1.5 Contact Hours.

Course Overview – Run Time: 1:30:09

  • Step-by-step instructions for performing and interpreting a quick, yet thorough, oral mechanism and cranial nerve exam.
  • Specific guidelines and examples for interpreting.
  • Reporting results.
"This was an excellent class that helped me to better understand complex topics. I especially enjoyed directions on how to complete a cranial nerve exam. I loved all the pictures and the video clips. Also, a HUGE thank you for the oral mech outline and sample report."

– E.D., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

The content of this online CE course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area.

Video PowerPoint presentation with author narration & downloadable handout. Stop and re-start the course at any point. Learners retain access to course content after completion for ongoing reference and review.

Reviews

"This course was a great refresher to what I knew and added additional knowledge to what I could look for during OME." N.E. (Feb. 2024)

"Adding in the cranial nerve involvement was beneficial. The course was straight to the point and had useful information." J.M. (Feb. 2024)

"The oral mech exam information was beneficial. It was easy to learn from this course." K.B. (Jan. 2024)

"All of the content was relevant. The visual along with the verbal explanations; very helpful in supporting learning." A.P. (Jan. 2024)

"The oral motor exam was helpful. I liked the illustrations." R.P. (Dec. 2023)

"Continued review of oral motor function and CN involvement is always helpful. I liked that the course was easy to access and the cost." A.F. (Dec. 2023)

"Discussing the elements of the cranial nerve exam was helpful. The presenter was very interesting." E.A. (Dec. 2023)

"Good refresher for CN functionality. Loved the whole course. Good use of pictures and video." D.C. (Dec. 2023)

"Activities to assess. Used real life examples." K.W. (Dec. 2023)

"I liked the review of OME and the ease of use of the course." C.H. (Dec. 2023)

"The review of cranial nerves and how to perform oral mechanism exam was beneficial. All of the photos and diagrams really helped assist in understanding the material. The presentation was very well put together. The presenter explained things in a very clear and understandable way." A.C. (Nov. 2023)

"Specific examples of how to assess CN functions made it very easy to apply what was learned. Practical examples Handout was helpful." K.W. (Nov. 2023)

"I liked the video examples of how to complete each step of the exam and what to look for. The review of each of the cranial nerves and their function was beneficial." A.D. (Nov. 2023)

"The detailed descriptions of every task/test done during the exam were helpful. I liked the comprehensive and detailed description of the OME." R.L. (Nov. 2023)

"Learning how to perform a cranial nerve examination was beneficial." P.J. (Oct. 2023)

"Clear information. I liked the refresher of all the cranial nerves." M.M. (Oct. 2023)

"Cranial nerves review and the manifested deficits." C.C. (Sep. 2023)

"The review of cranial nerve functions and how to assess was beneficial. I liked the specific examples." C.F. (Sep. 2023)

"I liked the thorough review of the oral mechanism examination and I will now expand my examination to include more of the tongue assessment by isolating the jaw movement, testing of facial sensation, and taste assessment." T.L. (Sep. 2023)

"I liked the examples and visuals, as well as the handouts." A.R. (Aug. 2023)

"I liked revisiting which parts of the OME are testing for each/group of CN. I found the review, handouts, and OME document to be very beneficial." A.G. (Jun. 2023)

"Discussion of cranial nerves impact on different aspects of the body was beneficial. I liked the example of an oral mechanism exam with a template of how to write up results." D.S. (Jun. 2023)

"I liked the evaluation of VII, the examples and videos." C.G. (May 2023)

"Succinct course. I liked the review of cranial nerves for speech and swallowing as well as going step-by-step through the exam." K.K. (Mar. 2023)

"Very specific course. Liked the cranial nerve exam." F.B. (Feb. 2023)

"This course was well organized and a good refresher for me. The videos and pictures were very illustrative and helpful. Liked everything regarding the tongue, a very important structure. The exam/eval (questions to ask, what to make the patient do) was very interesting." N.T. (Feb. 2023)

"The review of cranial nerves was beneficial. I liked the thoroughness of content." A.S. (Jan. 2023)

"Very in-depth course. Good review of cranial nerves and how to test their function." E.G. (Dec. 2022)

"The presenter was engaging and explained things well. Learning different exercises for the oral mech eval was beneficial." E.S. (Dec. 2022)

"Good review of specifics of motor vs sensory." D.R. (Dec. 2022)

"Clear and concise course with good visuals. Going through all of the components of the OME during the second half of the course was helpful." C.S. (Nov. 2022)

"I felt the review of the cranial nerves with relation to the oral mech exam was highly beneficial. The video examples were also extremely helpful." M.R. (Nov. 2022)

"This course was thorough with the CN. Learning approaches during oral mech exam was helpful." T.P. (Nov. 2022)

"Helpful review. I liked the examples of patients." W.H. (Nov. 2022)

"Great review of cranial nerve function and oral mechanism exam. The presenter is clear and easy to understand. Kellyn is also enjoyable to listen to." D.B. (Nov. 2022)

"The speaker was thorough detailing the cranial nerve information as it pertains to the oral motor exam." L.K. (Nov. 2022)

"I liked the description of the specific techniques the speaker uses to complete her exam with minimal tools to make it feasible in a work situation. The pace and direct application of how the OME can help with daily therapy knowledge were good." T.C. (Nov. 2022)

"Very clear descriptions with interpretations. A great review and pleasant presentation style of the clinically necessary info." M.Z. (Oct. 2022)

"Very thorough review of cranial nerves and testing during oral mech. Excellent lecture and support materials - examples and visuals - excellent handout with included oral mech examination form and sample verbiage for reporting." M.E. (Oct. 2022)

"I liked the examples, photos, and clear delineation of each CN. The course is thorough and clear." L.C. (Oct. 2022)

"I thought the course was excellent. The discussion on cranial nerve assessment was beneficial." D.Z. (Sept. 2022)

"Although it was much more detailed than I expected, I appreciated the additional facts and information." H.E. (Aug. 2022)

"It was a great review, and her handout was incredibly useful." R.L. (Jul. 2022)

"The speaker was easy to listen to and follow. I appreciated the review of the cranial nerves and their functions." K.B. (Jul. 2022)

"Very clear, concise, and practical information." H.H. (Jul. 2022)

"Liked review of the cranial nerves and ways to test their integrity." K.B. (Jul. 2022)

"I liked all of it. Determining which CN was involved in the observations found will be helpful." J.M. (Jun. 2022)

"I most appreciated the various patient demonstrations. Knowledge of neuroanatomy and differentiation of upper vs. lower motor neuron involvement increase confidence in assessing patients with certain diagnoses." S.S. (Jun. 2022)

"All of the information was valuable and beneficial. The presenter was very knowledgeable."  M.M. (Jun. 2022)

"I found the walk-through of the cranial nerve exam very useful. This was one of the most well-presented courses I have taken on NSS. Everything was clear and concise. The explanation of the cranial nerves and how to test their functions were well explained." M.H. (May 2022)

"Pace of the instructor was good. It was a great review of important information for me. I liked the oral exam suggestions." B.C. (May 2022)

"Clear, well-explained information without excessive detail. Beneficial to learn cranial nerves and their function." A.M. (May 2022)

"Incorporating CN knowledge into OME was beneficial." A.D. (May 2022)

"I liked the tools and process of testing the oral mechanism – the videos were very helpful." M.P. (Apr. 2022)

"The knowledge of the speaker and how information is presented was good. Valuable course! Highly recommended for SLPs." B.M. (Mar. 2022)

"Clear examples. Good review of what things I see in my exam could mean." D.D. (Mar. 2022)

"I appreciated the discussion of the actual tools/implements that Dr. Hall practically uses for all populations in an assessment. It was very well organized, structured and sequenced for optimal learning of the nerves, structure/function, and implementation. She is an excellent instructor, very concise and efficient in her methods." A.D. (Feb. 2022)

"I found the photos and live videos most helpful for applying content to clinical work." K.B. (Jan. 2022)

"The step-by-step breakdown of cranial nerves assessed through each oral motor task was helpful for my daily practice.  I liked the course format." S.S. (Oct. 2021)

"So much information, although it will have limited use for me with my caseload of general education and Mild-moderate special ed kids." J.C. (Sept. 2021)

"Esophageal dysphagia, Managing trach/vent patients with dysphagia & dysphagia in neurodegenerative diseases, Aspiration pneumonia, oropharyngeal strengthening & hydration management.  I feel like many aspects were covered & research I've never heard about in the section New Devices to Manage Sensory Loss." K.L. (Sept. 2021)

"It is so interesting to learn how the brain works to help move our muscles, swallow, eat, etc. I have always had a hard time learning all the cranial nerves and what each one innervates, so this was a wonderful refresher course for me. It was enjoyable to listen to and easy to follow. It was most interesting to learn about how to complete a thorough oral mechanism exam. Usually, the oral mechanism part of an evaluation is something I gloss over, but since taking this course, I see a greater importance for it.  Thank you!" A.H. (Sept. 2021)

"Practical application of a CN exam in written form was beneficial for my daily practice." K.S. (Aug. 2021)

"I appreciated the review of cranial nerves with the pictures of different patients/clients.  I liked the variety of pictures and videos the presenter used to get her points across. It greatly helped my application of the knowledge to have lots of examples." E.L. (Aug. 2021)

"The cranial nerve examination was beneficial for my practice, and the presenter gave lots of examples." B.S. (Jun. 2021)

"The actual testing of the nerves. The speaker was thorough and simplified it. I was thinking back to graduate school and wished I had a professor like her who makes learning the CNs functional.  I wished there was a video clip of true tongue fasciculations. More pictures and examples." B.U. (Jun. 2021)

"I thought this course was great!" D.S. (Jun. 2021)

"The example of the OPE exam/ checklist and the corresponding CN involvement." K.V. (Jun. 2021)

"Tongue movement. Very organized and easy to understand." M.A.H. (Jun. 2021)

"Separating each cranial nerve and talking about function and testing" T.J. (Jun. 2021)

"Actual videos demonstrations of OME and how to assess resonance with no tech/ low tech procedures. I was able to sustain attention throughout the entire course. Speaker kept me engaged" K.P. (Jun. 2021)

“I found the examination form and the report samples to be very helpful!” T.M. (Mar. 2021)

“I loved the detailed explanations and visuals.” B.A. (Feb. 2021)

Course Objectives

  1. Understand the neurology and neuroanatomy underlying speech, language and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
  2. Conduct a quick and thorough oral mechanism/cranial nerve examination across all ages.
  3. Interpret the results of the exam.
  4. Translate the results of the exam into a written report.

Presenter & Disclosures

Kellyn Dailey Hall, PhD, CCC-SLP, has worked over 30 years as a clinician, clinical specialist, and clinical manager in medical settings. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC where she teaches courses in Medical Speech-Language Pathology. She is a member of the North Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Professional Affairs Subcommittee on Healthcare and has presented at state and national conventions on Medicare documentation and ethics. Her current research focuses on the development and implementation of dining culture change practices for SLPs working in SNFs.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial — Kellyn Hall receives salary from North Carolina Central University.  Dr. Hall also receives royalties from Northern Speech Services and Carolina Speech Pathology for the development of various continuing education courses.

Nonfinancial — Kellyn Hall is a member of ASHA, a member and serves as President of NCSHLA, and member of NBASLH.

Intended Audience / Accreditation

asha ce approved provider

This program is offered for 0.15 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area).

Intended Audience

  • Speech-Language Pathologists

ASHA CEUs: NSS online courses are registered with ASHA and are offered for ASHA CEUs. The number of ASHA CEUs is noted above. Note that 0.1 ASHA CEU = 1 contact hour = equals 1 CEE.

ASHA CE Registry: During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you provide your ASHA number, NSS will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on November 7th, NSS will submit all November online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of December. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so November 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, November 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 2-3 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript.

ASHA CEUs: Attendees must meet at least one of the following conditions in order to be eligible to earn ASHA CEUs:

  • Current ASHA Member
  • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) Holder
  • Licensed by a state or provincial regulatory agency to practice speech-language pathology (SLP) or audiology
  • Credentialed by a state regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Credentialed by a national regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Engaged in a Clinical Fellowship under the supervision of an individual with their ASHA CCC
  • Currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in SLP or audiology

If an attendee is not an ASHA member or CCC holder but meets any of the above criteria, they may inform the ASHA CE Registry of their eligibility by visiting this site.

Licensing Boards: Most state licensing boards DO accept CEUs earned online (usually classified as home-study credits). Some state boards do, however, place a limit to the number of credits that can be earned via home study/online courses. For the most current information, we suggest that you contact your licensing board or agency to verify acceptance policies and/or any credit limits related to home-study courses prior to registering for this course.

Additional accrediting agencies by which Northern Speech is an approved CE provider:

  • California: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board. Provider #PDP4. Online CEU limits may apply; please contact SLPAHADB for current online CEU acceptance policies.
  • Iowa: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Iowa Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology Examiners. Provider #169.
  • Kansas: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Provider #LTS-S0005.

Frequently Asked Questions



Customer Support: Please phone 888.337.3866 or email info@northernspeech.com.

Course Completion Timeframe:

You have unlimited time to complete our online courses. You may log off and log on as often as you’d like to in order to complete all sections of a course.

However, completion dates are based on Eastern Standard Time. Therefore, if you need your CEUs by a certain date, be sure to complete the course test before 11:59pm EST on that date. For example, if you need CEUs before January 1st, you will need to complete the course test before 11:59pm EST on December 31st.

Content Access:

Access to course materials and content does not expire, even after completing the post test. You may continue to review course material by logging into your NSS account, clicking the My Online Courses tab, and then viewing your desired course.

Certificate of Completion:

On successful completion of the post test (80%), a certificate will be immediately available for download and/or printing. This certificate will include your name, date of completion (based on Eastern Time Zone, USA/Canada), and number of contact hours (CEUs / CEEs). Please note that CEUs are awarded on the date of successful test completion, not the date of course enrollment. Please ensure that you successfully complete the post test prior to any licensure renewal dates.

ASHA CE Registry Submission:

During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you provide your ASHA number, NSS will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on November 7th, NSS will submit all November online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of December. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so November 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, November 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 2-3 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript.

Purchase Orders:

Purchase orders are currently not accepted for online orders, if you wish to submit a purchase order please do so at info@northernspeech.com or fax to 888-696-9655.

What is an Online Course?

Our Online Courses consist of video, audio, and/or text content and are offered for ASHA CEUs. Unlike a webinar, which requires participants to be logged on and at a computer at specific times, our Online Courses are available to you at any time, from any device, via your NorthernSpeech.com online account. You may work at your own pace and start and stop your course as you wish. Your course will conclude with a short post test. On successful completion of the post test (>80%), a printable certificate of completion is presented to you.

Receiving CEUs:

Northern Speech is an ASHA CE Provider and our online courses are registered with ASHA and offered for ASHA CEUs. Please note that successful completion of the online post test is required prior to the awarding of CEUs. Please contact your state licensing board for acceptance policies related to CEUs earned online. Please note that courses offered for university students are not applicable for CEUs.

Registering for an online course:

You may browse all online courses by clicking the Continuing Education tab above, then Online Courses. Once you find a course, click Enroll Now, and you will be asked to either log into your existing Northern Speech account or create a new online account. Once you’ve entered your account information and provided your credit card payment, your course will be immediately available to you.

Accessing your purchased course or returning to a purchased course:

You will be able to access your online course by logging into your Northern Speech account and then clicking the My Online Courses tab on your profile screen. Click the course you would like to start or to resume. From there, proceed through the course sections until you are ready to complete the post test. You do not have to complete your course all at once. You may log on and off as you wish.

Testing requirements:

Each online course concludes with a post test consisting of multiple choice or true & false questions. Scores of 80% or greater are required for successful course completion and awarding of CEUs. You may revisit course materials and retest as needed to achieve a passing score.

Number of CEUs offered:

We offer courses from 1 to 21 contact hours. Each course will note the number of CEUs offered. Please note that 0.1 CEU = 1 contact hour = 1 CEE.

State licensing boards and online CEUs:

NSS is an ASHA CE Provider and most state licensing boards DO accept ASHA CEUs earned online (usually classified as home-study credits). Some boards do, however, place a limit to the number of CEUs that can be earned via home study/online courses. For the most current information, we suggest that you contact your licensing board or agency to verify acceptance policies and/or any CEU limits related to home-study courses prior to enrolling in an online course.

Course formats:

Our course formats include: text, audio, video, and PowerPoint with author narration. Each course will note the format on the course description page. Most courses include closed captioning.

Course handouts:

Most of our online courses provide a link to download the accompanying handout as a PDF file. 

Group discounts:

Groups of 3 or more are eligible for a 20% discount on each registration on most of our online courses. To receive this discount, registrations need to be processed together via the "Group Rates" tab on the Online Course of your choice.

Computer requirements:

For our online courses to function best, we recommend that you update your computer to include the newest version of your Internet browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, etc.) and newest version of your computer's operating system. Also a high-speed Internet connection is recommended (cable or DSL). Speakers or headphones will be required for many of our courses as many contain audio components.

Course Cancellation Policy:

A purchased online course can be exchanged, refunded, or transferred to another individual if contact is made with NSS (via phone or email) within 30 days of purchase and the course materials have not been viewed or downloaded. 

Special Needs:

Please click here for any special needs requests, and we will do our best to accommodate them. 

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