"There were so many beneficial topics, if choosing one, I would say the notion that we SLPs have been overreacting to aspiration, which is really unnecessary since it is just one risk factor among many, and research has shown it is not as detrimental as once believed. I liked the presenter's delivery of the material - he was very easy to listen to and gave excellent analogies to help improve understanding of the material. I also appreciated the slides and videos." V.O. (Nov. 2023)

"Learning how respiration and digestion systems can impact swallowing and signs of swallowing difficulties at bedside assessment. I liked the references to research studies and emphasis on the practicality of research vs. in the real-world working practices." I.L. (Nov. 2023)

"Relating anatomy to deficits, then intervention was beneficial. I liked the review of anatomy." C.G. (Nov. 2023)

"Very functional information. I liked all of it." S.H. (Nov. 2023)

"Speaker is fun to listen to! I enjoyed the great detail with which the speaker discussed the Respiratory System and the impact of ventilation & respiration on swallowing." N.A. (Nov. 2023)

"Every talk was relevant and interesting, with a well-pitched delivery for the audience. The flow of content was excellent. I liked the research evidence for treatment options and respiratory processes." D.C. (Oct. 2023)

"Dr. Coyle is fantastic at breaking down this information so it can be easily understood. I appreciate his analogies and examples." M.S. (Oct. 2023)

"Everything was beneficial - stellar material, very thorough." K.F. (Oct. 2023)

"Very informative course. I liked all of it. Breaking down chest x-rays and their meanings was beneficial." H.H. (Oct. 2023)

"Learning how lungs function was beneficial. I liked discussion of the research behind the exercises we do." A.S. (Oct. 2023)

"The description of CXR and esophageal imaging was helpful. I liked the demeanor of the speaker and the usefulness of information." J.L. (Oct. 2023)

"Easy to follow course. Informative info regarding EBP." J.S. (Oct. 2023)

"I liked discussion of esophageal disorders. And the various modalities used for the presentation." A.Z. (Oct. 2023)

"I liked that I could stop and start course to take notes at my leisure." A.B. (Oct. 2023)

"Excellent instructor! All information was relevant and of benefit to me." H.S. (Sep. 2023)

"This course was easy to follow and had extremely interesting and helpful information for the medical setting. The presenter was engaging and explained things well. The chest x-ray interpretation and independent factors for aspiration pneumonia were beneficial." M.R. (Sep. 2023)

"I have a better understanding now of the pulmonary system in general." J.C. (Sep. 2023)

"The discussion of treatment options and efficacy behind those was beneficial. I liked the variety of topics discussed for medical SLP practice." M.W. (Sep. 2023)

"Dr. Coyle is so good at diving into what's relevant and bringing it all together for a clinician to understand. Good strategies for educating other providers and medical professionals about aspiration pneumonia and dysphagia." A.J. (Aug. 2023)

"Every component of this course will help me improve my ability to care for patients in an acute medical setting. During this course I realized how deficient my knowledge has been. This course opened my understanding of the patients I serve immensely. I liked how much detail and information was included in the lectures." R.C. (Aug. 2023)

"The lecturer was very personable and easy to understand." M.G. (Aug. 2023)

"I liked the treatment considerations. It was useful having extended time to be able to dip in and out of the course content." C.B. (Aug. 2023)

"This course was fantastic and all of the content will be beneficial in daily practice. I really enjoyed learning all of the esophageal components. I liked the speaker, very knowledgeable, and he really broke everything down." R.M. (Aug. 2023)

"Really good information that I will continue to refer to and use in my hospital setting. Background respiratory function, interpretation & understanding of pulmonary diseases, tracheostomy - I liked everything." K.L. (Aug. 2023)

"I liked the clinical examples given throughout. Learning about different esophageal disorders and presentations. Being able to stop and revisit course content whenever." R.P. (Aug. 2023)

"Supports my belief that we are not aspiration therapists and need to consider the wider picture. Very relevant and pragmatic approach." T.S. (Aug. 2023)

"I'll be spreading the message about this course! The speaker engaged practicing SLPs in a LONG overdue, pragmatic discussion about aspiration prevention versus mitigation, thickened liquids, realistic outcomes and interventions. This discussion is imperative to our credibility and clinical efficacy." J.A. (Jul. 2023)

"Explaining my rationale in more medical terms for the medical & nursing staff will be beneficial. I liked that I could complete course at my own pace." B.M. (Jul. 2023)

"This course was informative and easy to understand. Learning relationship between swallowing and breathing was beneficial." S.B. (Jul. 2023)

"I liked the depth and breadth of information. Esophageal Motility topic was beneficial." D.H. (Jul. 2023)

"I liked the discussion on the pulmonary process." L.G. (Jul. 2023)

"Very pragmatic focus. The information on pulmonary and on the esophagus was beneficial." J.W. (Jul. 2023)

"I liked the discussions around the relationships between aspiration vs aspiration pneumonia and how to diagnose this. The explanation of medical terms was beneficial. Well paced, well laid out. Great to be able to come in and out of the course as needed." O.C. (Jun. 2023)

"This course supported and further provided data to support my clinical approach to diagnosing the presence of, assessing, and treating dysphagia. It provided supportive materials to facilitate communication of POC / nonPOC to MD and other caregivers." B.W. (May 2023)

"Extremely comprehensive course and presented in a tangible manner. I like Dr. Coyle! He is endearing, and his passion of the material is obvious." S.C. (May 2023)

"Information on CXR was beneficial. I liked the speaker's style of presentation." E.M. (May 2023)

"Good speaker, information, and examples. Discussing respiratory and esophageal impacts on swallowing and SLP's role was beneficial." B.E. (May 2023)

"Chest x-ray interpretation was beneficial." S.Q. (May 2023)

"All of it was great. Dr. Coyle is always wonderful and has a great way of making difficult information clear." V.W. (Apr. 2023)

"The Compensatory and Restorative treatment sections were beneficial. I liked the ability to 'dip in and out' of course as time allowed." P.M. (Apr. 2023)

"This course was very realistic and open about what actually occurs and our misconceptions/discomforts about aspiration. The sections focusing on the role of the esophagus and the realities of aspiration were beneficial." A.W. (Apr. 2023)

"The information specific to the imaging relative to dysphagia was beneficial." A.M. (Apr. 2023)

"I liked the updated research information on traditional therapy treatments along with ideas for new treatment methods, including efficacy. The progression of topics was easy to follow." K.A. (Mar. 2023)

"Esophagus material was very beneficial. I liked all course content." R.P. (Mar. 2023)

"Well-explained and very detailed course. Learning the different types of pneumonia and that it is not always caused by aspiration." S.W. (Mar. 2023)

"Very easy-to-follow videos and great examples of respiratory and esophageal disorders. I liked the debunking of non-evidence-based dysphagia treatment approaches and the focus on patient-centered evidence-based practice." M.P. (Feb. 2023)

"Everything! This was the best CEU course I have ever taken! I learned so much and it also confirmed many of my own beliefs and ideas." D.D. (Feb. 2023)

"The presenter did a great job at keeping me engaged and interested. Aspiration and linking respiratory function to swallowing and daily practice with reading status and discussing with the medical team." C.P. (Feb. 2023)

"It was great to be able to skip back to clarify points." C.T. (Feb. 2023)

"Interpretation of chest x-rays was beneficial. I liked the lecturer's application of all topics to real-life scenarios." K.P. (Jan. 2023)

"Really most of the content will help me, especially the information about the effects of aging on the respiratory system, types of effusions, esophageal disorders, and respiratory diseases. The course was organized in a way where I could take notes, especially for the less familiar topics of the respiratory system and esophagus." E.B. (Jan. 2023)

"Esophageal disorders and SLP approaches. Loved the background information about pulmonary physiology. I liked the personal experiences described by the speaker." L.H. (Jan. 2023)

"I liked all of the content. Very detailed course." K.C. (Jan. 2023)

"Very thorough with so much research to back up decision-making and treatment plans." J.S. (Dec. 2022)

"I really enjoyed the respiratory portion of this lecture. I implemented it into my practice right away." A.T. (Dec. 2022)

"Well organized. Covered all the medical aspects that are usually only learned once on the job." S.L. (Dec. 2022)

"Pulmonary / respiratory review and discussion. All pertinent information! Excellent course!" L.M. (Dec. 2022)

"The entire course was invaluable. I liked Dr. Coyle's presentation." G.B. (Dec. 2022)

"Dr. James Coyle's explanations were easily comprehensible. Respiration, digestion, aspiration pneumonia, ICU management." J.B. (Dec. 2022)

"The ventilation and respiration and info about CHF and COPD were really helpful. The ability to go at my own speed was nice and I re-watched several parts to make sure I had full understanding." S.W. (Dec. 2022)

"The design and progression of the course was perfect. The specific topic I found most beneficial was the background knowledge in the first several presentations that I did not receive at the graduate level and the treatment guidance." K.H. (Dec. 2022)

"This course went through respiratory conditions and how they affect swallowing. This course has a great presenter!" E.W. (Dec. 2022)

"All of it was great and super applicable." H.C. (Nov. 2022)

"I liked the topics of pulmonary, airway, and digestion physiology. The course is easy to get in and out, can preview the test, can take our time, can stop when needed to finish notes, and can go back and listen again to certain info." V.S. (Nov. 2022)

"The detailed knowledge of pulmonary and esophageal physiology was very informative. This course had good pacing and clear explanations." C.G. (Nov. 2022)

"The entire presentation is so informative and educational. I liked the depth, content, and evidence presented." R.P. (Nov. 2022)

"All of it was beneficial!! The evidence related to treatment methods was especially helpful." N.A. (Nov. 2022)

"Review of respiratory system was helpful. The ability to watch in shorter periods of time was nice." K.W. (Nov. 2022)

"The course content was amazing. Dr. Coyle covered very important medical topics for medical Speech Pathology. Excellent course." O.T. (Nov. 2022)

"I liked the respiration and aspiration-related topics." A.V. (Nov. 2022)

"The esophageal section was beneficial for my daily practice." L.D. (Nov. 2022)

"This was the best online course I have ever taken with Northern Speech. The speaker was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. He kept me engaged for the entire duration of the course." D.Z. (Oct. 2022)

"I liked that I can go back and review the course. Learning how cardiac disorders impact respiratory system." A.F. (Oct. 2022)

"Learning about esophageal anatomy and disorders, how they can affect the pharyngeal phase, what can be done to tx, and how and who to refer to were beneficial to my daily practice. I liked the mix of evidence-based teaching and clinical utility." J.B. (Oct. 2022)

"All sections were helpful in acute rehab." H.M. (Oct. 2022)

"Everything was beneficial for my practice! We do not learn enough about digestive and pulmonary issues and their relation to dysphagia when studying to become an SLP. Several topics were most beneficial: The anatomy relevant to diseases and dysphagia, discussion of evidence-based practice, and what research has to say about the efficacy and efficiency of exercises given to patients with dysphagia." N.S. (Oct. 2022)

"I liked the review of respiration and ventilation, and the digestive system." E.L. (Oct. 2022)

"I couldn't wait to hear more! One of the few CEU classes I've attended where I actually learned something functional. He is a great speaker and teacher." K.B. (Sept. 2022)

"Lots of great information." C.I. (Sept. 2022)

"I really appreciated most of the topics from the instant respiration began to be discussed." A.F. (Sept. 2022)

"I like the way the topic has been simplified enough to understand the topic in great depth." P.M. (Sept. 2022)

"The presenter is engaging and has extensive clinical experience." E.G. (Sept. 2022)

"The understanding of the respiratory and digestive system was good information. I like the presenter's solid knowledge bases, evidence, established links between physio-anatomy and swallowing disorders." S.T. (Sept. 2022)

"The complex information was delivered in a very engaging and user friendly way." S.S. (Aug. 2022)

"ALL of the A and P and evidence are excellent." C.Y. (Aug. 2022)

"Very digestible content."  C.B. (Aug. 2022)

"All of the course was very informative." J.M. (July 2022)

"Speaker is very knowledgeable." E.H. (July 2022)

"I like that I can watch certain sections again." M.L. (July 2022)

"In-depth explanations of medical terms to increase our skill set for medical based practice. Course was very thorough." J.H. (June 2022)

"Enjoyed the content of the entire course. I like the ability to stop and start the course." E.P. (June 2022)

"Consistently clear and comprehensive presentation style, supported by visual illustrations and videos." M.C. (June 2022)

"I enjoyed the content of the entire course." E.K. (June 2022)

"Everything regarding the relationship between respiration and swallowing was beneficial. Dr. Coyle is a great speaker. Very useful information presented in a straightforward manner."  K.I. (June 2022)

"The instructor!! Presented info as a pragmatic clinician/researcher. Truly appreciate Dr. Coyle's extensive knowledge base and ability to convey in such a succinct and memorable fashion." T.S. (June 2022)

"The entire course was informative. Provided a very comprehensive look into how to assess and treat those with dysphagia that are compromised due to pulmonary issues."  L.A. (June 2022)

"The information regarding chest x-rays was valuable in helping me understand how to determine what might be aspiration related." J.B. (May 2022)

"Presenter was very clear and personable." R.C. (May 2022)

"Dr. Coyle was very thorough and explained things in a clear, concise manner. As a clinician who works both in the outpatient setting performing MBS's and FEES, as well as in acute care, I found helpful information in all areas covered. I honestly soaked up every little thing of this course." K.C. (Apr. 2022)

"I appreciated learning how to approach referring physicians so that they will appreciate and trust your input." S.R. (Apr. 2022)

"The additional information regarding chin down posture and its impact on aspiration was beneficial." M.D. (Apr. 2022)

"I liked the section on Dysphagia in the ICU, the depth of the conversations, and how much the presenter went into detail on interventions." B.B. (Apr. 2022)

"I liked the knowledge and comfort level of the presenter. It was a lot of material. The presenter was aware of the old theories and pressed the audience to take the journey to explore new possibilities after understanding the basics." V.J. (Mar. 2022)

"The diversity and depth of information in one course was beneficial." J.B. (Mar. 2022)

"The speaker was clear and kept me interested." I.H. (Mar. 2022)

"I liked the two lectures on compensatory and restorative treatments, and the thoroughness and vast knowledge of the presenter." F.B. (Feb. 2022)

"The presentation of information was well organized and easy to follow. The presenter was excellent and knowledgeable. I love that the course was broken down into sections / separate videos. That made the content easier to get through and it allowed me to view small amounts at a time when I had availability during my work day." J.D. (Jan. 2022)

"I liked the discussion about the language doctors use and interpreting the radiographic studies. Lots of good information about the studies the doctors perform and I developed a better understanding of the radiologists' findings." R.K. (Dec. 2021)

"I enjoyed the amount of time spent on each topic. I feel like I learned a lot while being engaged." E.S. (Dec. 2021)

"I liked the entirety of efficacy in treatment methods/modes for dysphagia. Dr. Coyle's presentations are always so interesting and, of course, research-based." L.F. (Dec. 2021)

"I did enjoy the in-depth discussion of the esophageal phase." C.R. (Dec. 2021)

"Very thorough for medical SLPs, great resource for speaking with physicians and other medical professionals." A.G. (Dec. 2021)

"Extensive explanation of anatomy/physiology of medical diagnoses (COPD, CHF) that are commonly treated. Allows for more understanding and critical thinking when managing these patients." A.R. (Dec. 2021)

"Being able to access & stop, return to information & continue was good." N.M. (Oct. 2021)

"The comprehensive review of pulmonary diseases, pneumonias, respiratory diseases, and reviewing chest films was extremely beneficial. I feel much more knowledgeable in these areas after this course. The self paced aspect of this course made it very easy to watch components of the course, take notes, and even look up referenced literature to support learning." C.C. (Oct. 2021)

"Understanding the physiology behind the respiratory and digestive systems and how this impacts our work as SLPs will be beneficial for my daily practice.  Dr Coyle is an engaging and knowledgeable lecturer who made the material easy to follow and understand." M.K. (July 2021)

"The evidence-based treatment strategies will be beneficial for my daily practice.  Overall, the course gave me a different perspective and approach to dysphagia evaluation and treatment." C.M. (July 2021)

"I really enjoyed the whole course but I truly appreciated how in-depth the presenter went on dysphagia treatments. I find in a lot of courses, this is an area that is not as thoroughly discussed.  I loved that it was a medical speech language pathology course. I am a med/surg therapist and it can be hard to find courses on this subject matter. This is one of the best courses I have ever taken!" M.H. (July 2021)

"All which was discussed was vary important and useful.  I enjoyed the speaker's enthusiasm and clarity." M.R. (July 2021)

"The basis of respiration was extremely helpful in providing a foundation for the vent/recently extracted patients.  The variety of topics pertinent to medical SLP was excellent." A.H. (July 2021)

"My knowledge regarding this topic has increased tremendously, will surely benefit my patients.  I liked Dr. Coyle's depth, and explanation of more difficult material." P.R. (July 2021)

"Reading of CXRs and the use of a radiology dictionary was most beneficial for my daily practice!  The course had excellent background information into pulmonary and digestive processes." S.M. (June 2021)

"The instructor brought together a large amount of information and provided the SLP with the tools to diagnose swallowing difficulties as related to total patient health." B.W. (May 2021)

"The explanation of pulmonary systems, normal vs impaired in associated diseases/conditions, and its impact on swallowing was informative." L.I. (May 2021)

"The detailed discussions of underlying medical anatomy & physiology was helpful." K.F. (May 2021)

"I enjoyed the whole course! Dr Coyle does an amazing job of doing a functional but deep dive into the hows and whys of what Medical Speech Pathologists work with on a daily basis. The result is a greater understanding of what we see and how we can treat it." A.L. (May 2021)

“I liked the fact the instructor incorporated research articles, and he provided real-life examples.” J.S. (May 2021)

“This course really focused on the diagnosis/disease/etiologies of problems instead of putting band aids on something we don't fully understand. I think looking at the etiology, and the underlying cause for things will make us all much better clinicians.”  M.H. (Feb. 2021)

This program is offered for 1.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area).

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 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 masters 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.

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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