$49.00 USD

97% rating - reviews

0.25  ASHA CEUs

Updates In Neuroscience: How Therapy Changes The Brain #e243


Presenter: Martha S. Burns, PhD, CCC-SLP

Learn neuroscience as it applies to therapy selection and clinical outcomes.


"First course I've taken by Dr. Burns. I’m now going to take all the courses she has! Will take this course multiple times. It has so much to offer."

– A.R., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

This course reviews current neuroscience research on mechanisms of neuroplasticity. Specific emphasis is placed on cognitive-communication therapeutic drivers that positively affect brain maturation, reorganization, and recovery after injury.

This course provides a practical, comprehensive overview of treatment methodology (the ‘How’ of therapy) and research on treatment timing and intensity (the ‘When’ of therapy) as well as guides for selection of evidence-based approaches (the ‘What’ of therapy). The content is applicable to all age ranges, covering early brain maturation, the adolescent brain, as well as adult neuroplasticity mechanisms that are especially amenable to treatment.

Course is offered for 0.25 ASHA CEUs – 2.5 Contact Hours.

  1. Overview of neuroplasticity research.
  2. The human brain as an experience dependent organ: processes of maturation and reorganization after injury.
  3. Overview of natural neuroplasticity processes associated with diaschisis and brain re-organization during acute stages of stroke recovery.
  4. How therapy upregulates neuromodulators that drive brain maturation and reorganization.
  5. Other therapeutic factors essential to driving neuroplastic change.
"Dr. Burns does an excellent job of making all the research findings relevant to treatment. She has such extensive experience in this field, she is the best possible resource!"

– B.S., 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

"All of the course was beneficial, and I liked that it was self-paced." A.C. (Mar. 2024)

"The balance of neuromodulators and the importance of timing reinforcements. Everything in a therapy session must be balanced. I'm also happy the presenter pointed out the importance of warm-up exercises; I use them regularly. I liked the pace of the course." J.S. (Mar. 2024)

"The information on the importance of mass practice, repetition, using novel stimuli, and the 80% rule was confirmatory of how I work with my patients with aphasia. It does work, and I appreciate having it validated. I liked the information about learning and how the brain works and makes adaptations, also the information about brain chemicals related to learning and the research provided." S.L. (Feb. 2024)

"Discussing the specific information that is applicable to a variety of patient populations was beneficial." S.C. (Jan. 2024)

"Beneficial explanation of the brain anatomy regarding how it reorganizes to improve function. I can now explain to my patients, in more detail, how the cognitive-linguistic tasks are improving their brain function. I can refer to evidence-based research if needed." H.M. (Dec. 2023)

"Neurotransmitters and neuroplasticity were explained so well. Marty presented this complex material so clearly." K.P. (Dec. 2023)

"Ways to help older struggling students with organizational skills was beneficial. The course was broken up into sections, so it was easier to handle and to break up into smaller units of watch time. Made it easier to take breaks and to digest the info." L.M. (Dec. 2023)

"Discussing specifics about the importance of repetition combined with novelty in therapy was beneficial. I liked the organization and pace, keeping SLPs up to date with neuroscience." J.R. (Dec. 2023)

"Everything! I thought this course was great and very informative. Learning how brains can improve and the best therapeutic practices." K.R. (Nov. 2023)

"Research supporting the application of therapeutic intervention! I liked Martha Burns's delivery and educational style ~ thank you!" J.H. (Nov. 2023)

"This course was interesting, and I can use this information with children and adults. I liked the rule of 80%." C.O. (Nov. 2023)

"The role of the prefrontal cortex and neuromodulator upregulation and how we can use those to encourage brain change." A.P. (Nov. 2023)

"This topic was of high interest. I picked up ideas on how to explain the why of treatment to patients. I also appreciated the recommended resources." V.O. (Nov. 2023)

"Discussed therapeutic techniques to incorporate to boost neuroplasticity." S.B. (Oct. 2023)

"Showed how new research trends and therapy connect." L.G. (Oct. 2023)

"I liked the discussion about neurotransmitters." E.N. (Sep. 2023)

"I liked the new research." K.K. (Sep. 2023)

"The information regarding how the brain can compensate and repair or create new pathways was helpful. I liked all the updated brain research and how it applies to my practice!!" S.S. (Aug. 2023)

"Learning how the different parts of your brain change throughout therapy." K.B. (Aug. 2023)

"Connectivity and development of brain plasticity was a beneficial topic. I enjoyed learning about the diversity in axon development in correlation with age." D.K. (Jul. 2023)

"The discussion on Christmann's research was interesting. I enjoyed the comprehensiveness of the research." T.T. (Jul. 2023)

"The discussion of brain chemistry and treatment drivers was beneficial. Good course organization and use of current research." J.K. (Jun. 2023)

"First course I've taken by Dr. Burns. I’m now going to take all the courses she has! Will take this course multiple times. It has so much to offer and I suspect it will give one new perspective every time one goes through it." A.R. (Jun. 2023)

"Understanding what we do and how we do it does make positive changes and can improve the function of our pt.'s lives. I liked this topic and understanding the science to support EBP and maximize treatment outcomes." W.R. (Jun. 2023)

"Excellent, excellent overview. Especially the idea of the why, what’s, how and when of therapy, and how they tie in with brain changes and the role of neuromodulators. I liked everything, especially the balance of complex info explained concisely and effectively." A.R. (Jun. 2023)

"I liked that the research was also connected with therapy performance. It was beneficial to discuss auditory processing disorder." L.M. (Jun. 2023)

"Thorough discussion of neuroscience as it applies to speech therapy. I liked the discussion of neurophysiology as it pertains to stroke recovery." E.J. (Feb. 2023)

"Practical therapy applications. I liked the easy to follow examples about neuroplasticity." L.S. (Feb. 2023)

"Learning why the therapy we choose matters. I liked all of the examples." K.J. (Jan. 2023)

"Breaking down the what, when, and how of therapy was beneficial. I liked that she spoke very technically but always related it to therapy - love neurology." E.W. (Dec. 2022)

"Discussion of the developmental stage of the adolescent brain was beneficial. I liked the charts and diagrams." P.A. (Dec. 2022)

"All of it was excellent. Dr. Burns is a gifted lecturer and makes difficult material interesting." K.F. (Dec. 2022)

"I thought the whole class was excellent. Learning neuroanatomy in relationship to clinical outcomes." A.F. (Nov. 2022)

"Treatment based on evidence-based results. Clear and concise way of presenting the material." S.P. (Nov. 2022)

"There was a good emphasis on not wasting any of the patient's therapy time by knowing about neuromodulators and selecting evidence-based therapeutic interventions. I loved learning that a training I had received earlier is out of date due to new research using dynamic imaging." H.H. (Nov. 2022)

"Updated research on "how" neuroplasticity occurs. Highly relevant content and not overly simplistic in the neuroscience review." R.F. (Nov. 2022)

"I enjoyed the way the course was divided up, it really helped!" S.O. (Oct. 2022)

"I especially enjoyed the discussion regarding different neurotransmitters and their role in effective therapy techniques. The convenience and scope of the content were good." S.J. (Oct. 2022)

"Learning the new imaging and how that is being used to look at intervention was good information for my practice." N.B. (Oct. 2022)

"I like that Martha follows the outline of the course." L.K. (Sept. 2022)

"I found all the neuroscience data interesting. Dr. Burns does an excellent job of making all the research findings relevant to treatment, which is particularly helpful. She has such extensive experience in this field, she is the best possible resource! She has a great delivery. Her presentation is interesting enough to make one forget that there are no visuals outside of the slides.....which were also much appreciated."  B.S. (Sept. 2022)

"The information on stroke recovery was good." M.V. (Aug. 2022)

"Loved the review of what the goal of each section was before diving into the material." B.S. (June 2022)

"Knowledge of the speaker was impressive. I liked the relevance to treatment." A.D. (May 2022)

"Lots of wonderful references and relevant examples." K.E. (May 2022)

"I liked how the presenter was able to relate the technical information to clinical practice." W.H. (May 2022)

"Wow! Impressive! I love the way you make neuroscience sound like something that is easily discussed over the clothesline! Thank you." R.G. (Apr. 2022)

"Martha Burns is an incredible speaker. I liked how she made complex topics relatable in comparing brain pathways to airport hubs, etc." J.L. (Apr. 2022)

"The presenter provided great examples to apply to research findings. The consideration that should be given to the "how" of therapy in relation to neurochemicals." M.S. (Apr. 2022)

"The presenter made a complex topic easy to understand and her explanations can be used with family members and patients." S.M. (Mar. 2022)

"Learning the type of experience that the brain needs in order to grow and develop." S.J. (Jan. 2022)

"I liked the emerging brain mapping information. Very informative." A.I. (Jan. 2022)

"I really enjoyed connecting the science of the brain to the work we do and explaining why we do what we do with clients." K.E. (Dec. 2021)

“I enjoyed the explanation of the difference between therapists and teachers, and the importance of therapists. I can explain this to my parents.” E.G. (Dec. 2021)

"I really liked making the connections between therapy strategies I use, and the chemical effects those strategies have on the brain." S.S. (Dec. 2021)

"Confirmation that differentiation in application of strategies according to patient/student needs is literally lifesaving. I liked that the course was relevant to therapy and to education." J.T. (Nov. 2021)

"The information regarding the how, the what, and the when of therapy was beneficial for my daily practice.  I liked the information about the Human Connectome Project, brain building process and neuro chemistry of the brain."  L.T. (Nov. 2021)

"Really thinking about the natural chemical modulators in learning. What a great wealth of examples and attention grabbing information!  I was able to read the material at my own pace. To stop and be able to go back and re-read after an unplanned longer break. Ability to print selected information was nice." K.A. (Jul. 2021)

"Each section seemed to have tidbits that I can definitely keep in mind and use to guide my therapy planning and execution." J.C. (Jul. 2021)

"RELATIONSHIP OF Neuroplasticity to therapy at different ages is beneficial." T.W. (Jul. 2021)

"Examples of practical therapy applications were beneficial for my daily practice.  There was a good balance of in-depth information while still being relevant to practicing clinical SLPs." H.P. (Jun. 2021)

"The wealth of information that was provided by the speaker." K.B. (May 2021)

“I loved the analogies used to understand complex data (novelty!). The airport, hubs - great!” H.H. (Mar. 2021)

“I liked the research-based findings. The brain function plasticity and application for treatment including top-down and bottom-up factors.” J.R. (Feb. 2021)

“The presenter was very knowledgeable and provided clear information.” M.W. (Jan. 2021)

Course Objectives

  1. Apply current neuroscience research to therapeutic organization and planning.
  2. Interpret neuroscience research implications that apply to cognitive/communication interventions with children and adults.
  3. Utilize current neuroplasticity research in identifying methodologies that enhance therapeutic outcomes by maximizing neuroplasticity mechanisms.
  4. Evaluate and select evidence-based treatment approaches based on best practices as indicated through stroke recovery research.
  5. Evaluate and select evidence-based treatment approaches for neurodevelopmental cognitive-communicative disorders based on best practices as indicated through neuroscience research on other, non-stroke populations.

Presenter & Disclosures

Martha S. Burns, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a renowned author and clinician specializing in language and brain development. Dr. Burns is an ASHA Fellow, serves on the faculty of Northwestern University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and has been a consultant to Chicago area school districts for over 30 years. She has authored three books, a test, and over 100 book chapters and articles on language and brain development, language disorders, and interventions for autism, and auditory processing disorders.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial — Martha Burns is a presenter of online CEU courses sponsored by Northern Speech; receives royalty payments.

Financial — Martha Burns is a paid consultant for Scientific Learning Corporation.

Nonfinancial — Martha Burns has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Intended Audience / Accreditation

asha ce approved provider

This program is offered for 0.25 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area).

Intended Audience

  • Speech-Language Pathologists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • California: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board. Provider #PDP4. Online CEU limits may apply; please contact SLPAHADB for current online CEU acceptance policies.
  • Iowa: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Iowa Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology Examiners. Provider #169.
  • Kansas: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Provider #LTS-S0005.
  • Florida: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Florida Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. Provider #SPA-026.
  • New Jersey: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the New Jersey Department of Education. Provider #1654.

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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