$44.00 USD

92% rating - reviews

0.2  ASHA CEUs

The Five Systems Of Dysphagia: Why The SLP Is More Important Today Than Ever #e261


Presenter: Jeanna Winchester, PhD

This course explores the broadening role of the SLP in dysphagia therapy.

"This course highlighted topics that I deal with on a daily basis when working in a SNF and when working in acute care at a hospital."

– K.B., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

This course explores the multisystem breakdown of the swallow as well as the broadening role of the SLP in dysphagia therapy. The five systems of dysphagia (cognitive - neurological - respiratory - gastrointestinal - muscular) are discussed with explanation of how disorders in these systems can have a devastating effect on the swallow.

Applications in everyday clinical practice as well as dysphagia assessment and treatment planning are provided. Aspiration risk and other related factors that contribute to repeat hospital admissions in this population are documented.

Several case studies are presented covering neurogenic dysphagia, indicators of return to hospital risk, and the possible oral, laryngeal and lobar effects of COVID-19.

Offered for 0.2 ASHA CEUs – 2 contact hours.

Course Overview – Run Time: 2:03:39

  1. Bodily Systems Affected in Dysphagia.
  2. Case Study: Dysphagia, Dementia & Frailty.
  3. The Neurological & Cognitive Control of Swallow Function and the SLP's Breadth of Expertise.
  4. Revising the Adult Neurogenic Dysphagia Dx for the Medical SLP.
  5. Case Studies in Alzheimer’s Disease for the Medical SLP.
  6. Post-Op Dysphagia Across Multiple Bodily Systems.
  7. Case Study: Dysphagia Symptoms in Post-Hip Surgery in Elderly Patients.
  8. Management of Dysphagia in Acquired & Progressive Neurologic Conditions.
  9. Case Studies:
    • Dysphagia Assessment & Management in Acute Care Affects Patient Outcomes.
    • Predictors & Outcomes of Dysphagia Screenings.
    • Sarcopenia & Malnutrition from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19:  GI, Respiratory, Neurological & Muscular System-Wide Destruction, An Overview.
  10. Dysphagia is a Multi-System Breakdown of the Swallow and Can Predict Return to Hospital Risk.
  11. Reducing Repeat Hospital Admissions is Important!
  12. Expanding Role for the Savvy SLP!
"I liked that the course was designed in terms of body systems, which is the way doctors and nurses learn about the disease. When I was in school, the approach was primarily neurological."

– S.N., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!
"The presenter kept my interest, and provided many examples and personal experiences from her practice, which enhanced the total presentation of the course."

– J.B., 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

"The neuro discussion was beneficial." L.L. (Mar. 2024)

"The speaker was clearly knowledgeable." J.W. (Mar. 2024)

"Discussing poor nutrition/malnutrition in the dementia and AD populations was beneficial. I liked the steady pacing and clear course slides that coincided with the presentation." E.L. (Dec. 2023)

"Interesting speaker and she was able to speak to her cervical spine issue. Appreciated her comments about how she felt swallow strategies were helping her manage - best of luck to you! I liked the review of swallowing and highlights pertaining to COVID - challenging times in healthcare." J.H. (Dec. 2023)

"Beneficial discussion on Covid-related dysphagia. The course was quick and to the point." T.B. (Dec. 2023)

"The discussion on COVID was helpful. Good stats." A.B. (Dec. 2023)

"Interesting information. I liked the discussions on dementia and dysphagia." B.O. (Nov. 2023)

"New research on Covid effects on aging population and dysphagia." J.W. (Nov. 2023)

"I liked that course emphasized SLP role." E.P. (Nov. 2023)

"The impact of dysphagia on aging patients with regard to the decline in specific swallow functions and the attention to bedside and instrumental assessment was beneficial. I appreciated the emphasis on the value of SLP services with regard to dysphagia across the board." C.W. (Sep. 2023)

"I liked the discussion and elaboration of the 5 systems and how they impact overall swallow function. I appreciated the elaboration on the neurological and cognitively impaired patients, which are the primary areas we see in our hospital setting. Also appreciated the information provided about dysphagia in the post-hip fracture patient." C.W. (Sep. 2023)

"Involvement of neurogenic disorders associated with dysphagia, and specifics to dysphagia in acute care setting were beneficial." M.W. (Aug. 2023)

"Informative, timely, and self-paced. I liked the information on dysphagia during COVID-19 and AD." A.B. (Aug. 2023)

"I liked the comprehensive nature of this course. Specific review of the 5 systems was beneficial." L.M. (Jun. 2023)

"I found the overall topic interesting. The information was delivered in a way that was easily understood and provided practical implications for use in practice as well as general knowledge." D.H. (Jun. 2023)

"I liked the discussion on dysphagia as it relates to Covid virus. The presenter was easy to listen to and knowledgeable." J.P. (Jun. 2023)

"Very informative. I liked all of it." Y.C. (Apr. 2023)

"Covid-19 info was beneficial." J.K. (Apr. 2023)

"AD and the clinical recommendations were beneficial. It’s a simple yet thorough coverage of information." B.H. (Apr. 2023)

"I liked the topic on dysphagia in patients with dementia. Good detail provided." K.H. (Mar. 2023)

"Great information that was clearly presented. I liked the incorporation of information relative to COVID-19." A.M. (Mar. 2023)

"Consideration of ways that dysphagia contributes to worsening of cognitive and physical function in geriatric populations." L.M. (Mar. 2023)

"All areas related to AD, especially in the rehabilitation setting. I liked that there were topics discussed that are not discussed in other courses re: neurological conditions." K.H. (Mar. 2023)

"I liked the presenter's style and the 5 systems of dysphagia." A.C. (Dec. 2022)

"Specifying the 5 systems of dysphagia and their interactions was beneficial." A.V. (Dec. 2022)

"Learning the expanding role of the SLP in dysphagia treatment was interesting. I liked the explanation of the systems involved with dysphagia." C.H. (Dec. 2022)

"Malnutrition effects - including all of the systems that can be involved." M.W. (Dec. 2022)

"Good information especially with COVID-19. Very thorough." C.B. (Nov. 2022)

"The class provided an excellent overview of how discretely connected the systems of dysphagia are. The section on how insurances factor into how hospitals and care centers prioritize patient care was very enlightening!" J.K. (Nov. 2022)

"The presenter was very thorough and presented information well." C.B. (Nov. 2022)

"Great work on the statistics topic." J.C. (Nov. 2022)

"All the information related to AD and dementia was good. The course has easy-to-follow slides." K.C. (Oct. 2022)

"I liked the COVID info and all the examples." K.A. (Oct. 2022)

"The layout was easy to follow and the content was very informative and pertinent to the clinical setting." K.C. (Sept. 2022)

"The real clinical examples were good." S.A. (Sept. 2022)

"Her discussion was easy to follow." E.B. (Sept. 2022)

"The course covered a range of conditions." M.H. (Sept. 2022)

"The information regarding management of dysphagia in acquired & progressive neurologic conditions was good." B.J. (Sept. 2022)

"The information about the neuroanatomy and physiology involved in the swallow appeared well understood by the presenter and was at an appropriate complexity level for experienced clinicians.  The content about characteristics of dysphagia in particularly populations (e.g., impaired closure of UES in Alzheimer's dementia patients) and the content about recent regulatory changes (e.g., CMS focusing on factors that will reduce re-hospitalization rates) was the most helpful." E.G. (Aug. 2022)

"The flow and format are excellent!" D.M. (Jul. 2022)

"The case studies related to AD patients was beneficial. This is a majority of my caseload. Thorough overview of background info, and clinical application." E.P. (Jun. 2022)

"The use of universal dysphagia screening was good." J.B. (Jun. 2022)

"Speaker's knowledge was good." M.S. (Jun. 2022)

"This course highlighted topics that I deal with on a daily basis when working in a SNF and when working in acute care at a hospital." K.B. (Jun. 2022)

"A lot of this information can also be applied to children with neurological impairments. Very informative and well organized." A.P. (Jun. 2022)

"Loved the different stages for swallowing." D.P. (Jun. 2022)

"Relevant information. Easy to follow and understand." T.M. (May 2022)

"The speaker made the material interesting and related it to everyday practice." R.P. (May 2022)

"I thought the information related to dementia and dysphagia was helpful to know what to expect with these patients. I liked the different examples of different diagnoses and how dysphagia progressed and occurred in each of these diagnoses." J.S. (April 2022)

"The presenter kept my interest, and provided many examples and personal experiences from her practice, which enhanced the total presentation of the course."  J.B. (Feb. 2022)

"It was comprehensive and pertinent to my current place of employment."  R.A. (Dec. 2021)

"Comprehensively, it was helpful to review the systems involved in dysphagia and aspiration risk. This course pointed me, once again, to how important it is to know type and severity of diagnosis and how it related to consideration of the care plan and communication with the family or facility. The handout reinforced the verbal presentation which is helpful for later review of pertinent information."  A.H. (Nov. 2021)

"The outline and presenter helped pace the material."  V.G. (Oct. 2021)

“The information on the relationship between COVID-19 and its association with dysphagia was insightful. It was very informative in how it related to the current pandemic situation.” A.P. (Oct. 2021)

“I found that relating the 5 systems to relevance in treating ALL patients who may present with dysphagia to be very helpful. The course was easy to listen to, good pace, relevant and current info.” V.G. (Oct. 2021)

"I appreciated the consideration of the whole person. I liked the inclusion of Covid-19." H.T. (Sept. 2021)

"Going over dysphagia among dementia patients was most helpful. I liked the realistic presentation." S.T. (Sept. 2021)

"I liked the practical implications. The COVID-19 information was most beneficial." G.W. (Sept. 2021)

"The link among the five systems which are interconnected was interesting. The course was easy to follow even for SLPs who are not specialized in the area." R.C. (Aug. 2021)

"Being aware of how dementia can affect dysphagia was a good lesson. The integration of systems and how they interact with or cause dysphagia was interesting." S.M. (Aug. 2021)

"Very current. Great course!" V.B. (Aug. 2021)

"Helpful information on new roles for SLP with the onset of COVID 19, along with patient's that have AD. It was easy to follow and pertinent to my current setting." J.D. (Aug. 2021)

"I found all the presentations interesting." I.C. (Aug. 2021)

"The knowledge and complete presentation regarding Dysphagia and management of it in many disorders was good." P.M. (Aug. 2021)

"Discussing the different types of dementia and how each impacts swallowing will be beneficial to my daily practice. The teacher did not waste any time, and solely focused on the material - since it was online, it could be paused and I could rewind if needed." B.F. (Jul. 2021)

"I am looking to transition from the school-based setting to a medical setting. This course was a help refresher for me.  This course was engaging and informative." K.G. (May 2021)

“The information was timely and applicable to long-term settings.” S.F. (Mar. 2021)

“I liked the review of the multiple regions of the brain involved in swallowing. The influence of the pons and medullary coordination for CO2 was insightful. Also, the involvement of regions of the brain affecting memory and how this contributes to dementia-related dysphagia was very interesting.” G.O. (Feb. 2021)

“The information on reducing repeat hospital admissions, connection between cognition and malnutrition was very informative. I liked that it was designed in terms of body systems, which is the way doctors and nurses learn about the disease. When I was in school, the approach was primarily neurological.”  S.N. (Dec. 2020)

“I found it particularly beneficial that the current COVID-19 crisis is discussed. And how it is having a major impact on our profession. It was timely and very relevant. Jeanna Winchester, Ph.D. was an excellent presenter. Very knowledgeable, easy to listen to, and a champion for the profession. Thank you!” K.A. (Dec. 2020)

Course Objectives

  1. List neurological and cognitive mechanisms involved in the swallow and their breakdown in dysphagia.
  2. Describe the relationship between neurogenic dysphagia and the bodily breakdown associated with frailty, Alzheimer’s disease, sarcopenia, malnutrition & pneumonia.
  3. Demonstrate practical applications in everyday clinical practice.

Presenter & Disclosures

Jeanna Winchester, PhD, is a Clinical Cognitive Neuroscientist, Professor of Medicine, Allied-Health Instructor, Author and a small business owner of JWPhD LLC; a Continuing Education Firm. Dr. Winchester works with industry leaders to provide CME, CPD & CEU content in America, the UK, Australia, Canada & New Zealand. Dr. Winchester has additional post-graduate education in Health Law, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Speech-Language Pathology & Healthcare Administration.

Speaker Disclosures:

FinancialJeanna Winchester is the presenter of online CE courses sponsored by Northern Speech Services; receives royalties.

NonfinancialJeanna Winchester has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Intended Audience / Accreditation

asha ce approved provider

This program is offered for 0.2 ASHA CEUs (Introductory 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.

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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.

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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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