UPDATED 8/11/2014: THIS PROGRAM HAS REACHED OUR LICENSED SEATING CAPACITY OF 100 PARTICIPANTS. You may continue to register, but attendance is not guaranteed. If we reach out limit during the event and people who registered before you are blocked from attending, we will unfortunately have to ask you to leave the webinar. THANKS YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR PROGRAM. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPCOMING WEBINARS.
The National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders is offering a series of patient-centered webinars on the latest research on swallowing disorders. Experts in the field of swallowing disorders will present information on topics such as tongue stem cell research, nutrition, and aspiration pneumonia, as they relate to swallowing disorders. If you are a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) or know someone with a swallowing disorder, please share this web page with them. Please find a list of future speakers and topics listed below!
Webinar #2: The role of electrical stimulation in the treatment of dysphagia
Description: Elevation of the hyoid and larynx help to close the vestibule to protect the airway during swallowing. Individuals with dysphagia sometimes have reduced or delayed hyo-laryngeal elevation, which can put them at risk for aspiration. Surface electrical stimulation is currently used during therapy for dysphagia. Dr. Ludlow’s presentation will provide recent information about the physiological effects of surface electrical stimulation during swallowing and what evidence is available on whether it is effective as a therapy for patients with dysphagia.
Presenter: Dr. Christy Ludlow is currently a Professor at James Madison University (JMU) in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders where her research interests include manipulating neural control for dysphagia rehabilitation. Dr. Ludlow received a B.S. degree in physiological psychology and an M.S. degree in speech pathology and audiology from McGill University. After completing her clinical training, she received her Ph.D. in speech pathology and psycholinguistics from New York University. Dr. Ludlow then moved to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) in 1974 where she supervised grants and contracts on voice and speech research. In 1988 she moved fulltime to the intramural program and developed a laboratory program studying the neural control of voice, speech and swallowing. Dr. Ludlow received Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2005 and the 2006 Award of the American Laryngological Association. Dr. Ludlow’s research covers the neurological organization and control of laryngeal function in voice, speech and swallowing, the pathogenesis of idiopathic voice and speech disorders, and the effects of functional electrical and sensory stimulation in severe swallowing disorders.
Date: August 27th, 2014 (Wednesday)
Time: 4:00 PM EST (3:00 PM CST, 2:00 PM MST, 1:00 PM PST)
Duration: About 45 minutes for the presentation and up to 30 minutes for Q&A
Cost: 2014 Members = Free!
Cost: Non-members, visit our FAQ page
The NFOSD is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 organization and all donations, including membership fees, are tax deductible. Benefits of an annual membership include a faster delivery of our “Swallowing Disorders can Affect Anyone” tri-fold, a discount on patient-oriented dysphagia webinars, automatic sign-up for our “Small Bytes” e-newsletter, access to our Medical Advisory and select Foundation board members on an as-needed basis, and inclusion of your NFOSD support on your resume or CV.
Fee Disclaimer: Fees must be paid online through the secure PayPal system. You can use a PayPal account or a credit card within PayPal. The fee will be refunded if you end up with a poor Internet connection to the Webinar; it will not be refunded if for some reason your plans change and you could not attend. If you cannot afford the fee and think that the webinar would be beneficial, please email info@nfosd.com for a fee waiver.
Please add this to your calendar. All you need is a computer with sound capabilities, a web browser, and a reasonable Internet connection. To sign up, click the link below. Once you fill out the registration, the page will refresh and there will be a confirmation message at the bottom of the page that your registration was received.
Click Here to register. Seats are limited, so register now.
We hope you are able to attend this event!
Medical disclaimer. This Webinar is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with an appropriate health care professional, as each individual’s medical situation is unique. It is important that you consult with your medical professional (e.g., physician, SLP) before implementing any course of treatment. Experiences that are new to you should be done with the help of a caregiver and when access to emergency medical care is available.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for information on becoming a member, webinar fees, time zone assistance, and other useful information.
Future Webinar Presentation Topics:
Webinar presentations will be scheduled five to six weeks apart. Dates, presenters, and topics that have been confirmed are listed:
Webinar (September 30th) – How to Find the Right Professional to Help with a Swallowing Disorder (Nancy B. Swigert, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S)
Description: Finding the right medical professional to help with a swallowing disorder can be very challenging. Different medical specialists address different types of problems. This webinar will describe the basics of a variety of swallowing problems. The different physician specialists will be described (e.g., ENT, gastroenterologist, radiologist). The role of the speech-language pathologist in evaluating and treating all types of problems will be described as well as what specialty certifications are needed and how a specialist can help. The function of a multi-disciplinary team will also be addressed.
Nancy B. Swigert, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Bio: Nancy B. Swigert is the director of Speech-Language Pathology and Respiratory Care at Baptist Health Lexington at their acute care facility in Lexington, KY. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Kentucky. She has authored six publications with Linguisystems (one on adult and one on pediatric dysphagia) and she lectures extensively in the areas of pediatric and adult dysphagia.
She received her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She currently chairs the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. She was president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1998 and chaired the Special Interest Group on Swallowing for three years. She is on the Medical Advisory Board for the NFOSD.
Webinar (November 4th) – Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients with Swallowing Disorders (Tiffany Mohr, MA, CCC-SLP)
Description: Pneumonia is a breathing condition in which there is swelling or an infection of the lungs or large airways. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when food, saliva, liquids, or vomit is breathed into the lungs or airways leading to the lungs. This presentation will cover the risk factors, symptoms, assessment, and treatment for aspiration pneumonia, as aspiration pneumonia can be a serious life-threatening complication for those with swallowing disorders.
Tiffany Mohr, MA, CCC-SLP
Bio: Tiffany Mohr is a speech-language pathologist at the Department of Veteran Affairs in Houston, Texas. She works with Veterans who require Diagnostic and Treatment services in the areas of communication, cognition, respiration, swallowing, voice, and head and neck cancer. Tiffany Mohr received her M.A. degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston in 1999 and has been providing speech-language pathology services to those of all ages for nearly 15 years.
Webinar– I-Pro Swallow Solutions Therapy (Dr. Joanne Robbins)
Scheduled for December 2nd (TBC) — Description and Bio Coming Soon!
Webinar (January 27th)– Nutrition and Dysphagia (Laura Michael)
Description: Managing and maintaining nutritional and hydration needs for someone with dysphagia can be especially challenging. In this presentation, Laura Michael will discuss the importance of meeting one’s nutritional needs and how to makes foods and beverages safe, palatable, and pleasing. Ms. Michael will discuss her first-hand experience of caring for her father when he developed dysphagia due to Lewy Bodies Dementia and how she was able to translate all her industry knowledge and cooking skills to help her mother and others care for her ailing father.
Laura Michael, BS
Bio: Laura Michael earned her B.S. degree in Nutrition from the Ohio State University and then trained with one of the authors of the American Dietetic Association’s National Dysphagia Diet. Laura spent more than ten years as a Regional Sales Manager in the healthcare/food industry. During that time she educated and trained hospital, nursing home and rehab facility staffs on how to make foods and beverages safe, palatable and pleasing for their patients with swallowing disorders. In 2011, Laura started her own company, Dysphagia Supplies Direct, to help people with dysphagia live their best lives. She trains professionals and family caregivers in how to manage the food and beverage modifications necessary using techniques and products to meet the needs of each unique client. Her company offers specialty food products, many of which are not readily available outside the acute-care setting, making it possible to receive care at home, in a group home or other care setting. Her specialty is caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other Dementias, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Stroke and Head-Neck-Oral Cancers. Ms. Michael is a board member of our foundation, the NFOSD.
Webinar (February 24th)– Degenerative Disease and the Impact on Swallowing (Dr. Michelle Ciucci & Dr. Emily Plowman)
Description and Bios Coming Soon!
Webinar (April 7th) —Clinical implications of Swallowing Research (Molly Knigge, MS, CCC-SLP)
Description and Bio Coming Soon!
Webinar— Living with Dysphagia: The Social Impact (Sonia Blue)
Description and Bio Coming Soon!
Past Webinars in the Series:
Webinar— Adult Human Tongue Stem Cell Research (Dr. Peter Belafsky) July 15, 2014
Description: Dr. Belafsky has been preparing for an FDA clinical trial at UC Davis involving the implantation of adult human stem cells into the tongues of patients with swallowing impairments. While stem cells have been used successfully in the treatment and repair of other human organs and tissue (e.g., restoring sight to the blind), this will be the first time stem cells have been used in a process to strengthen and restore a vital part of one’s swallowing function. During this presentation, Dr. Belafsky will discuss the science behind this trial, the current status of this initiative which began almost a year ago, the Institute for Regenerative Cures (IRC) where the stem cells work is taking place, the process of growing adult human stem cells, and the anticipated target date for when this will become an FDA approved human trial which in turn will allow for the recruitment of human subjects and the actual implantation of their stem cells into tongues which have become compromised due to illness or accident.
Bio: Dr. Belafsky is Professor and the Director of the Voice and Swallowing Center at the University of California, Davis. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Otolaryngology at the UC Davis School of Medicine and the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He is the recipient of numerous awards and grants and was the lead investigator on the World’s 2nd laryngeal transplantation. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, holds numerous patents, has edited and authored 4 books, is the co-founder of two medical device start-up companies, and was the President of the Dysphagia Research Society in 2013. Dr. Belafsky’s primary research focus is the innovative treatment of profound swallowing disorders. He has created a medical device that can manually control the upper esophageal sphincter, is working on an innovative dilator for upper esophageal sphincter stenosis, is developing a comprehensive swallow propulsion system, and is evaluating the use of muscle stem cells for dysphagia rehabilitation. He has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people with profound swallowing impairments. He is also the Medical Director of our foundation, the NFOSD.