$69.00 USD

95% rating - reviews

0.3  ASHA CEUs

Mild Cognitive Impairment: Early Indicators And Clinical Interventions #e237


Presenter: Kathryn Bayles, PhD, CCC-SLP (Retired)

Learn to identify those at risk for MCI and to provide clinical intervention.


"Dr. Bayles is an outstanding teacher. She made the content interesting, comprehensive and thorough. All of the sections were extremely valuable."

– J.S., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) comprise the fastest growing clinical population in the United States and worldwide because of the tsunami of individuals with dementia producing diseases and those with sports and combat-related head injuries (CTE). Early identification is vital to delay or prevent progression to dementia and diagnostic criteria and test performance cutoffs are now available.

Language performance deficits are early indicators of MCI and SLPs are uniquely qualified to identify those at risk for MCI and provide clinical intervention if needed. This course has four parts: (1) overview of cognition, (2) DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, (3) evidence-based early indicators, (4) clinical objectives and cognitive-science based strategies for triggering neuroplasticity and building cognitive reserve.

Offered for 0.3 ASHA CEUs – 3 contact hours.

Course Overview – Run Time: 3:00:37

  1. Overview of cognitive function
  2. Types of cognitive disorders
  3. New DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing neurocognitive disorders
  4. Early indicators of cognitive impairment: what the research tells us
  5. Clinical objectives
    1. Building cognitive reserve
    2. Strengthening skills and knowledge
    3. Providing education about neuroprotective practices
      • Sleep and consolidation of memory
      • Exercise and brain health
  6. Diet and cognitive wellness
  7. Science-based factors that advantage neuroplasticity
  8. Therapy strategies supported by principles of neuroplasticity
  9. Putting it all together
"Understanding the red flags to look for during evaluation was very helpful. The entire presentation was quite informative. There was a lot of information packed very tightly into this course. It was helpful to be able to go back and re-listen to certain parts or sections."

– E.M., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

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

"I enjoyed learning about the neural substrates related to different memory processes. Well organized. Interesting examples. I like the format and that I can go back and listen to something again." J.P. (Mar. 2024)

"The course flowed well and was informative. I learned from the entire session." K.S. (Mar. 2024)

"Beneficial strategies for therapy and what to target." K.C. (Dec. 2023)

"The whole course was beneficial; it was a nice refresher. I liked the detail." R.D. (Dec. 2023)

"I liked the relevance of tasks, diet, exercise, and sleep." L.M. (Nov. 2023)

"This course gave me a deeper understanding of MCI related to what is going on in the brain. The instructor's knowledge base in the area of neurocognitive impairment is superior." L.G. (Oct. 2023)

"I loved this entire course. The information was most interesting. The discussion on screening/testing for MCI as well as clinical strategies and factors which may positively impact treatment was beneficial." S.J. (Jul. 2023)

"I liked the specifications of each different brain issue and how to best evaluate them. Very clearly presented course and informative." K.J. (Apr. 2023)

"I liked the thoroughness with applications to clinical practice." M.S. (Mar. 2023)

"Excellent information to assist families facing the challenges of MCI. Good clinical objectives." R.B. (Jan. 2023)

"Dr. Bayles is an outstanding teacher. She made the content interesting, comprehensive and thorough. All of the sections were extremely valuable." J.S. (Dec. 2022)

"This course provided a clear review of previously learned information and built upon it with new research." J.S. (Dec. 2022)

"All topics were useful. The entire course was useful." P.D. (Nov. 2022)

"There is an unbelievable amount of information presented in this course!!! Fantastic!" K.K. (Nov. 2022)

"I would recommend this course." J.A. (Oct. 2022)

"The course is easy to follow." E.M. (Sept. 2022)

"Very functional useful information." K.L. (Aug. 2022)

"Very thorough, appreciated breaking down of all of the types of memory." J.A. (Aug. 2022)

"There was a lot of information in this course." K.G. (Aug. 2022)

"Well organized and succinct course; great visuals." E.C. (July 2022)

"The organization and wealth of information provided as it relates to SLPs was good." W.R. (June 2022)

"Liked the discussion on free radicals. The exercise guidelines were helpful." A.J. (June 2022)

"Good course with practical applications." E.W. (May 2022)

"I learned how to better identify MCI and what treatment and recommendations are best for the population. For me, it was very applicable since I work primarily with those with MCI and sometimes I'm not sure what is going to be most effective for them." K.D. (Apr. 2022)

"I liked the science-based strategies. Also, the ability to stop and start the course as needed." P.W. (Apr. 2022)

"I found the results on cognitive reserve interesting. I liked that specific areas for testing were discussed as well as treatment approaches." R.C. (Mar. 2022)

"Very applicable to daily practice! Good options for assessments." E.C. (Mar. 2022)

"Practicality of knowledge was good. I liked discussion of the neurosupportive factors (sleep, diet, exercise, etc)." P.L. (Mar. 2022)

"The presenter's vast knowledge and her experience with this population enhanced the presentation." J.B. (Feb. 2022)

"Understanding the red flags to look for during evaluation was very helpful. The entire presentation was quite informative. There was a lot of information packed very tightly into this course. It was helpful to be able to go back and re-listen to certain parts or sections. The overview of cognition was very helpful; it was taught better than the dementia course I took in graduate school." E.M. (Nov. 2021)

"I liked the presenter's approach. It was very direct with examples." R.W. (Oct. 2021)

"I liked the breakdown of different types of memory. This course was very detailed but easy to understand." N.S. (Oct. 2021)

"The course was thorough and well organized." E.B. (Oct. 2021)

"I appreciated the focus on positive steps that can be put in place to strengthen neural connections through specific cognitive activities, and healthy lifestyle choices. These are things a client can really take control of and feel more positive and empowered in their own health.  The clearly defined framework around different types of memory and their significance both in diagnosis and therapeutic planning." J.K. (Sept. 2021)

"The idea of providing hope for people with dementia and the science-based clinical strategies will help my daily practice. I liked that it was applicable to what I do. Her clinical strategies were specific and doable." M.M. (Aug. 2021)

"The testing protocols, specific science based strategies to use in sessions was beneficial for my daily practice." C.D. (Jul. 2021)

"Specificity in the descriptions of memory loss with aging and the course outline were good." P.B. (Jun. 2021)

"The entire course was outstanding." R.L. (Jun. 2021)

"STRONG review of memory; appreciate new DSM information on MCI and differential diagnostic info for early dementia.  Great handout, but mostly just listening to Dr. Bayles synthesize this complex info. Long time since I've been able to take one of her courses. Appreciate strong connection of research to therapy/clinical practice." M.C. (Jun. 2021)

"The Science-based clinical strategies were very beneficial, especially the use of more personally relevant material combined with errorless learning. Also incorporating sleep, diet and exercise education into intervention as a means of improving cognitive health. I am glad to hear that these topics are in our province from Dr. Bayles; I have used elements of health coaching and personalized nutrition handouts from our dietitian to help my patient to learn and recall nutrition information relevant to diabetes management.  The clear explanation of the different types of memory and pathology and the neuroanatomic bases; I have take many courses on this topic but the manner in which Dr. Bayles presented this information was very clear and applicable to clinical practice." L.D. (Jun. 2021)

"I enjoyed the narration"  M.S. (Jun. 2021)

"Recognizing MCI and science based treatment strategies the research articles linked for further reading and the evidence based treatment strategies" L.B. (Jun. 2021)

"Easy to follow format." R.A. (Jun. 2021)

"Pace was good, test was challenging afterwards and handouts had a good amount of information, good reference list provided." V.G. (Jun. 2021)

"Info about cognitive reserve was useful.  The presenter was engaging and seamlessly incorporated information from research studies and articles as well as practical information.  I had to do this in sections because it does require concentration and time to absorb the information. I am an "old" medical SLP and found this to be one of the few courses I have taken recently that kept me engaged. Thanks for that!" B.S. (Jun. 2021)

Course Objectives

  1. Summarize the mechanisms of memory formation and learning.
  2. List the DSM-5 criteria for mild and major neurocognitive disorders (MCI and dementia respectively).
  3. List the guidelines for valid identification of individuals with MCI.
  4. Describe the evidence-based critical factors that trigger neuroplasticity and sustain learning.
  5. Define cognitive reserve.
  6. Describe clinical strategies supported by the principles of neuroplasticity that build cognitive reserve.

Northern Speech Services is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval #37081. This eCourse is offered at 0.3 CEUs, educational level Intermediate, 1. Domain of OT: Areas of Occupation; Cognitive Skills, Client Factors, Performance Skills 2. OT Process: Evaluation, Intervention; Analysis of occupational performance; Develop intervention plan & approaches. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Presenter & Disclosures

Kathryn A. Bayles, PhD, CCC-SLP (Retired), is Professor Emerita of the University of Arizona and an internationally known expert on cognitive-communication disorders associated with Alzheimer’s and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes on Aging, Mental Health and Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the Alzheimer’s, Andrus, and Robert Woods Johnson Foundations, and the Universities of Arizona and Central Arkansas. Widely published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, Dr. Bayles has also authored four books, the most recent being Cognitive-Communication Disorders of MCI and Dementia and two standardized tests: The Arizona Battery for Cognitive-Communication Disorders (ABCD-2) and the Functional Linguistic Communication Inventory (FLCI-2). She is a Fellow and Honors Recipient of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Past President and Honors Recipient of the American Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences.

Speaker Disclosures:

FinancialKathryn Bayles is presenter of online CE courses sponsored by Northern Speech Services; receives royalties.

Nonfinancial — Kathryn Bayles has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Intended Audience / Accreditation

asha ce approved provider

This program is offered for 0.3 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area).

Intended Audience

  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • OT

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.
  • Florida: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Florida Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. Provider #SPA-026.

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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