Presenter: Roxann Diez Gross, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow
– C.D., prior course participant
This course is intended to increase the participant’s ability to problem solve a range of conditions that may occur when working with patients who have indwelling tracheostomy tubes. Each problem scenario presented is based on clinician experience along with the solutions that worked in specific cases. Photos and videos are provided so that the participant can observe how tracheostomy tubes differ and how selected speaking valves function.
Learn to identify symptoms that could indicate a patient may benefit from a different type of tracheostomy tube. Discussed will be tracheostomy tube variables such as tube angle, length, flexibility, and neck plate configuration. References for related topics are included.
Offered for 0.15 ASHA CEUs – 1.5 contact hours.
Course Overview – Run Time: 1:33:07
– A.D., prior course participant
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.
"Beneficial information about the talking trach tube. Very informative course." A.S. (Sep. 2024)
"I thought all of this information was incredibly useful, and I particularly appreciated learning about all the other different types of speaking valves as well as the explanation on the role of the inner cannula - why it's important to have it, why patients will report greater ease of breathing without it, and what to do about it. Simple and highly effective format - common problem followed by an in-depth solution." S.C. (Aug. 2024)
"The problem-solution format was a nice way to teach this information. I enjoyed the format and speaker knowledge." L.W. (Jun. 2024)
"The visuals were good, and I liked the general knowledge of different trach and speaking valves." S.C. (May. 2024)
"Problem-solving and exploring different technology was helpful." F.A. (May. 2024)
"Presenter did a good job covering each topic adequately. Good pacing to readily move through lots of content." K.M. (Apr. 2024)
"All of the course was beneficial. I enjoyed the pictures of the items." E.G. (Apr. 2024)
"I appreciated her providing case studies regarding her experience with different problems and how she solved them. It showed me the importance of not giving up, and how providing education to our colleagues can be so important. I liked the pictures and examples." S.G. (Feb. 2024)
"This was a great review of talking valves and fittings." P.R. (Dec. 2023)
"Very experienced clinician presenter. Beneficial discussion regarding troubleshooting ventilator leaks and the use of speaking valves." R.G. (Nov. 2023)
"This entire topic was relevant to my job. I liked the format of presenting a problem and then discussing solutions." E.C. (Nov. 2023)
"This was a helpful topic above and beyond the usual "this is how trachs work." I did not know that trach sizes vary between brands because my facility only uses Shiley. For instance, a size 6 Portex is not the same size as a size 6 Shiley." J.B. (Nov. 2023)
"Real-world examples and practical applications. I loved all of the practical examples for troubleshooting various solutions." D.W. (Oct. 2023)
"Discussing solutions to common trach problems was helpful. I liked the clinical relevance of this course." J.R. (Oct. 2023)
"Different ways to intervene based on each individual tract patient. I liked the implementation of personal clinical experience." A.W. (Sep. 2023)
"Learning trach tube fit variations was beneficial." S.B. (Sep. 2023)
"I liked the talking trach tubes discussion. And the pictures and videos." L.B. (Sep. 2023)
"Very well done presentation. Examples and style of presentation were very good." S.C. (Sep. 2023)
"Comprehensive. Discussed many different available products and indications for trach changes." B.M. (Aug. 2023)
"The information about the different kinds of trach tubes was helpful. I liked troubleshooting the cases." M.W. (Aug. 2023)
"Clear presentation with examples and video, thank you. The discussion to enable better recognition of different trach types was beneficial." J.A. (Jul. 2023)
"Wow. I will definitely be talking to RT about some of these newer products. Thank you!" E.K. (Jul. 2023)
"I found this training to be very helpful and encouraging. It was nice to see how determined the presenter was to help those who have tracheostomy tubes to speak. I had not received training in my master's degree program for the tubes or speaking valves, so all of the presentation was helpful." C.O. (Jun. 2023)
"The speaker's knowledge and determination to restore speech for trach clients was nice to see. The videos, stories and photos were also very helpful." C.O. (Jun. 2023)
"The variety of tracheostomy tubes presented and problem-solving were beneficial. Loved the problem-solving and recommendation suggestions." A.H. (May 2023)
"The problem solving discussions were beneficial. I liked trouble shooting the different problems." A.H. (Apr. 2023)
"I liked all of it. Good video examples and handouts." J.K. (Apr. 2023)
"I liked the case examples and variety of equipment. Good visuals." S.F. (Mar. 2023)
"I liked the problem-solving strategies." M.W. (Feb. 2023)
"Learning the various types of trach tubes and their function was beneficial. I liked the thoroughness and knowledge of the speaker." J.W. (Jan. 2023)
"Practical takeaways." G.B. (Dec. 2022)
"This course provided functional strategies that would be easy to implement in clinical practice. The videos and demos were really helpful." A.H. (Dec. 2022)
"I liked that I can replay the course and adjust according to personal time." N.R. (Nov. 2022)
"Learning about the different brands of tubes and why MD's choose one over the other was beneficial. I liked that course was self-paced." E.B. (Nov. 2022)
"The presenter was knowledgeable. Provided a good review of the parts of a trach tube and differences in trach tubes." K.I. (Nov. 2022)
"I knew some of this information, but learned a lot about different types of tubes." D.D. (Nov. 2022)
"Multiple problem examples and solutions for trach patients and how to educate hospital staff, SNF, and family." V.B. (Oct. 2022)
"The videos and photos were amazing! I liked the case studies." A.D. (Oct. 2022)
"The whole topic was so informative and educational. I really enjoyed it. I liked the fact that the speaker followed along with the handout." D.Z. (Oct. 2022)
"This speaker was excellent and I'm going to look for other presentations that she does. Thank you." D.Z. (Oct. 2022)
"Very informative course." M.W. (Oct. 2022)
"The information was very clear and it is very accessible for everyone." M.A. (Oct. 2022)
"I liked that presenter discussed real-life scenarios and gave examples of what to look at and how she addressed them. It was a good review for me on the different types of trachs." R.L. (Sept. 2022)
"All of this was new and of interest. Learning the types and varieties of tracheostomy tubes and their functions was very beneficial. The instructor had excellent pictures of the various types of tubes and accessories. They were very helpful along with her use of a pointer (arrow) because most photos showed intricate details that required careful observation to understand their functions." E.B. (Sept. 2022)
"I liked the multiple examples and videos." L.G. (Sept. 2022)
"The variety of options & visuals to assist with understanding was good. The problem scenarios were great." A.V. (Aug. 2022)
"The personal examples the presenter gave were good." J.P. (Aug. 2022)
"I would recommend this course." K.G. (Aug. 2022)
"I liked the format of the course." H.H. (June 2022)
"I liked the format that she did where she gave a common problem and then provided the solution instead of just talking about each tube and what it can and cannot do. It's helpful for someone like me who does not encounter traches often and are not familiar enough with them to be able to problem solve like that. I liked how she presented each problem with a solution." K.B. (Apr. 2022)
"I liked the problem solving examples using real patients." T.S. (Mar. 2022)
"Liked that the information was very direct and to the point. I especially liked the fenestrated trach information." K.B. (Feb. 2022)
"Well presented. Gives real-life examples." L.J. (Feb. 2022)
"I learned how to make the patient more comfortable with the tracheostomy." L.S. (Feb. 2022)
"Quick and to the point. Increased use of trach's in our acute care facility s/p COVID, therefore all the various types of tubes and speaking valves is helpful for education of staff for patient care." M.G. (Feb. 2022)
"I liked learning about the different problems that you may face. I liked the case at the end with the 2 year old patient." K.S. (Jan. 2022)
"The case history experiences were helpful." S.L. (Jan. 2022)
"The pace and the amount of information was great. I liked seeing and understanding all the different types of trach tubes and the circumstances for their use." E.T. (Jan. 2022)
"I enjoyed the entire presentation. Education on cuff deflations was helpful." A.D. (Dec. 2021)
"Visual examples increased understanding of topic – learned about several tracheostomy tube types and possible problems." L.G. (Dec. 2021)
"Learning the different kinds of tracheostomy tubes and accessories and how they function. Liked the introduction of different kinds of tracheostomy tubes." C.C. (Dec. 2021)
"I appreciated the review of trachs in general and the convenience of the course." M.H. (Nov. 2021)
"The problem solving scenarios and videos were very helpful. Loved the format. Present problem and then immediate solutions." T.F. (Oct. 2021)
"Entire lecture is technically advanced, supported by research and enhanced by patient videos. Excellent course." C.J. (Oct. 2021)
"The explanation with visual aid such as video were good." C.K.C. (Sept. 2021)
"I liked that the course addressed topics to troubleshoot for tracheostomies of all stages and the pictures and figures." J.C. (Sept. 2021)
"In-line information; all possible issues that I may encounter in the inpatient setting were addressed." B.K. (Aug. 2021)
"The pictures were helpful & presentation was well organized." L.W. (Jul. 2021)
"I think problem-solving in general is great for daily practice. This course was very indicative of what a day in the life of a SLP is like when working with patients with tracheostomy tubes. I was looking for more experience in this area of practice and was given some helpful tips. I liked that we were given specific examples and that the instructor walked through potential solutions for each problem. This was very practical." A.D. (Jun. 2021)
"The method of delivery was concise and easy to follow for the most part. Great basic information to let me get started." S.S. (May 2021)
"The most useful for me will be the information regarding temporary trach management and problem-solving. I liked the clear, concise language. I LOVED the real-world format of presenting a problem and discussing both successful and unsuccessful attempts to address the problem." C.D. (Apr. 2021)
"I liked the problem based learning." A.B. (Mar. 2021)
“This course provides a very realistic/functional approach to managing tracheostomy patients, listing a problem and how to troubleshoot it. It gave me more confidence as a clinician starting with trach care in a facility with minimal-to-no guidance.” D.C. (Feb. 2021)
"I found the discussion of different tubes - their component parts and various branding - most beneficial to enable a better fitting trach tube for better results rather than just the go to tubes we have available in my facility." N.M. (Feb. 2021)
"I enjoyed the information about cuff deflation/inflation, talking about trachs, and the suction aid. I liked the ease of the presentation and organization of info. However, I expected more actual tx techniques & demonstrations." R.H. (Jan. 2021)
“I enjoyed the visual representation of airway configurations and how each tube could be used for the specific needs of patients.” K.S. (Jan. 2021)
“I think problem-solving in general is great for daily practice. This was very indicative of what a day in the life of a speech-language pathologist is like when working with patients with tracheostomy tubes. I was looking for more experience in this area of the practice and was given some helpful tips. I liked that we were given specific examples and that the instructor walked through potential solutions for each problem.” A.D. (Dec. 2020)
Roxann Diez Gross, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, is a leading expert, accomplished researcher, and frequently invited national and international lecturer. Her areas of expertise include swallowing function, esophageal dysphagia, and management of patients with tracheostomy tubes and speaking valves.
Currently, Dr. Gross is a consultant and clinical specialist for Swallowing Diagnostics, Inc., Parkland, FL. She was the Director of Research at The Children's Institute in Pittsburgh, PA., and prior to this position, she was Director of the Swallowing Disorders Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology in the School of Medicine.
Dr. Gross has published several scientific papers and clinical book chapters. Most recently, she was the primary editor of a case study textbook that focuses on tracheostomy and ventilator dependence in adults and children. Her primary area of research examines interactions between breathing and swallowing in neurologic and respiratory disease. Over the past 10 years, she has expanded her clinical work and research to include non-pathologic forms of esophageal dysphagia.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial — Roxann Diez Gross is presenter of online CE courses by Northern Speech Services; receives royalties.
Nonfinancial — Roxann Diez Gross has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
This program is offered for 0.15 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 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:
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:
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:
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