Course Code: REL-RTS-0-HNCDM
Hours: 1.5
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2028
Learning Objectives:
Identify anatomical and physiological swallowing changes and common dysphagia-related complications associated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or chemoradiation therapy for patients with HNC.
Select evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies for managing HNC-related dysphagia, focusing on monitoring, patient-specific adaptations, and interprofessional collaboration.
Outline:
Section 1: Overview of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC)
Dysphagia in HNC
Knowledge Check
Interprofessional Collaboration
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 2: Swallowing Evaluation
Evaluation Focus
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 3: Effect of HNC Treatments
Dysphagia Treatment Considerations
Dysphagia Symptoms with Surgery
Dysphagia Symptoms with Chemotherapy
Dysphagia Symptoms with RT
Dysphagia Symptoms with CRT
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 4: Managing Dysphagia in HNC Treatment Stages
Pre-HNC Treatment
During HNC Treatment
Post-HNC Treatment
Grace: Dysphagia in a Palliative Context
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 5: Education of the Patient and Their Support Network
Education About Swallowing Changes to Expect
More Educational Topics
Case Example: Nathan
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 6: Clinical Vignettes
Dawn
George
Section 7: Conclusion
Course Summary
Course Contributors
Resources
References
Writer: Susan Almon-Matangos, MS, CCC-SLP
Susan Almon-Matangos, MS, CCC-SLP, is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with over 40 years of experience. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Jacksonville State University and her Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology from The University of Alabama. She has provided care to clients across the lifespan with diverse diagnostic conditions in settings including school, hospital, skilled nursing facility, outpatient clinic, and home health settings. In her previous role as a national clinical director for a contract therapy company, she developed training programs for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology focusing on clinical rehabilitation needs of older adults in post-acute care. Currently, she serves as the Lead Subject Matter Expert Writer for Speech-Language Pathology at Relias, where she leverages her clinical expertise and analysis of published research. She is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Subject Matter Expert: Rina Abrams, MS CCC-SLP
Rina Abrams holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences from the University of Colorado and a Master of Science from the Medical University of South Carolina. She is an assistant professor, Co-Director of the Dysphagia and Deglutition Clinic, and Lead Head and Neck Speech Pathologist at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Her primary clinical focus is dysphagia, head and neck cancer, and alaryngeal speech. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland and Towson University. She lectures nationally and publishes on head and neck cancer rehabilitation.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Introductory level Speech-Language Pathologists; Introductory level Speech-Language Pathology Assistant; in the following settings: Assisted Living Facility, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORFs), Home Health Agencies, Skilled Nursing Facility.
Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.
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All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.
Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.