Presented by Ianessa Humbert, PhD
Initially Broadcast on July 15, 2026
Webinar Description: Join Dr. Humbert for an eye-opening and provocative session unpacking four persistent swallowing myths pulled from SLP-led discussions in the Get Fluent Series on physiology, assessment, and treatment.
Through engaging patient cases, you’ll learn to move beyond well-meaning assumptions and get fluent in identifying the physiologic impairments that actually drive clinical decision-making.
7:00 PM — Phagophobia: ‘You swallow fine. It’s probably just anxiety’
Learning Objective:
Differentiate psychogenic swallowing complaints from physiologic swallowing impairment by identifying clinical findings that warrant instrumental assessment and physiologic investigation.
7:15 PM — Chin Tuck Against Reality (CTAR): Swallowing rehab is a pain in the neck
Learning Objective:
Distinguish compensatory swallowing strategies from rehabilitative swallowing interventions and determine when postural modifications are unlikely to produce meaningful physiologic change.
7:30 PM — Resi-due and Resi-don’t: Natural pockets in the throat are the G.O.A.T.
Learning Objective:
Describe the functional role of pharyngeal recesses in normal swallowing and interpret pharyngeal residue within the context of bolus flow, anatomy, and physiologic impairment.
7:45 PM — Ain’t nothing like the real thing, Baby: Bolus-driven swallowing therapy means you gotta feel to learn how to deal.
Learning Objective:
Explain the physiologic rationale for bolus-driven swallowing therapy and identify how sensory and task-specific swallowing experiences support functional rehabilitation.
8:00 PM — Adjourn
Target Audience: Speech-language pathologists, healthcare professionals who work with patients with dysphagia, people with swallowing disorders, loved ones and family members of people with swallowing disorders
Learner Objectives:
1. Learners will be able to identify and critically evaluate common misconceptions about swallowing and swallowing disorders using evidence-based insights.
2. Learners will gain a clearer understanding of the complexities of swallowing physiology and pathophysiology, enabling them to make more informed decisions in clinical practice or caregiving.
3. Learners will be equipped with accurate, research-backed information to challenge outdated beliefs and integrate best practices into patient care, education, and advocacy.
CEUs: The live broadcast of this webinar is available for .1 ASHA CEUs (1 hour) thanks to a cooperative offering by Swallowing Training and Education Portal (STEP). ASHA CEUs are not provided for the recording.
Meet the Presenter
Ianessa Humbert, PhD
Ianessa Humbert, Ph.D. is an accomplished scientist, professor, and highly sought-after speaker with expertise in swallowing and swallowing disorders. With over 100 speaking invitations around the world, the most common feedback from attendees continues to be “This is the first time a course has really forced me to think about what I’m doing”. Dr. Humbert’s teaching philosophy requires attendees to question everything they think they know before learning can begin.
Dr. Humbert’s innovative training style has been funded by ASHFoundation and extends to non-traditional learning formats. She is the co-creator of the popular Down the Hatch podcast and has co-founded online learning tools including STEP (Swallowing Training and Education Portal), lovingly known as Swallowing Netflix, and has developed high-quality, no-cost learning tools available on her YouTube Channel. Dr. Humbert has demonstrated her gift for creating images that depict the dynamism of swallowing via her Swallowing Pocket Guide and Swallowing Neuro Anatomy and Physiology Shorts or SNAPS (on STEP).
Dr. Humbert has been on faculty at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the University of Florida, and the University of Iowa.
Cost: FREE. This webinar has been made free to all registrants thanks to a generous unrestricted educational grant provided by Bracco Diagnostics and the educational sponsors of the NFOSD.
NFOSD Educational Sponsors
