Saturday, March 31 - SESSION DETAIL

Short Course 12                              Pediatric SLP
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Developing Language in Children with Autism: Insights from Neuroscience, Diane L. Williams, PhD, CCC-SLP, Duquesne University
(Instructional Level: Intermediate)

Modern research techniques have yielded remarkable findings on the underlying neurobiologic and neurofunctional basis of autism. With behavioral neuropsychological research, these findings are leading to new understanding of the mind and brain in autism, which is informing the design of interventions that accommodate the way the brains of children with autism function. This short course will review this research and the application of a neurofunctional model of autism to intervention with verbal, high-functioning children and adolescents with autism and to the development of language in young and low-verbal children with autism.

Learner Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to describe the current major findings of the neurobiological basis of autism, enumerate the effects of the neurofunctional differences associated with autism on language processing and apply this information to intervention planning for school-age children and adolescents with autism, apply the understanding of a neurofunctional model of autism to intervention planning for low functioning children with autism.
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Short Course 13                              Adult SLP
9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer, Paula Sullivan, MS, BRS-S, Malcom Randall VAMC/North Florida South Georgia Veterans Health System
(Instructional Level: Intermediate)

This short course will provide an in-depth examination of head and neck cancer, its presentation, functional sequelae, treatment options, and provide an evidence-based approach of optimal patterns of care for head and neck patients with swallowing dysfunction. Types of treatment for head and neck cancer and their impact on swallowing and communication function will be described, including surgical, organ preservation, and combined approaches. Assessment and evidence-based practice relevant to the head and nack caner population will provide support for the practitioner in developing a holistic approach to rehabilitation which will optimize functional outcomes. Case presentations will be an integral part of this short course.

Learner Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to identify key factors that predispose individuals to dysphagia after organ preservation treatment and techniques to limit chronic swallowing dysfunction, discuss assessment tools and outcome measures to evaluate health related quality of life and functional outcomes of swallowing, explain nutritional considerations in patients undergoing treatment of head and neck cancer, discuss swallowing and communication management considerations sprcific to the head and neck cancer population including: pre-treatment planning and support, timing of intervention and rehabilitation, PO/NPO, quality of life, and palliative care.
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Seminar 30                                      Multi-Interest
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Stories in Communication Disorders: A Novel Approach, Pamela Smith, PhD, Bloomsburg University of PA; Char Molrine, PhD, Edinboro University of PA
(Instructional Level: Intermediate)

Teaching and learning take many forms, but one of the earliest ways life’s lessons are conveyed is through listening to and reading stories. Not surprisingly, there is evidence that stories and novels aid in professional preparation of health care providers and educators. Clinical tales, as well as novels in which characters experience communication disorders, help the learner gain emotional perspective and insight that textbooks cannot provide. This seminar will examine the use of “stories” in preparing clinicians for practice, including narratives about our own clinical experiences, novels that augment specific classroom content, or anecdotes from books that provide humanistic perspectives to facilitate learning. The use of stories in educating families and others will be discussed.

Learner Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to compare the different types of knowledge that are required of the competent and empathetic clinical service provider, discuss the psychological processes of learning through true stories, clinical anecdotes, and relevant fiction, locate three appropriate and topical stories/novels to augment clinical and family teaching in communication disorders.
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Seminar 31                                      Pediatric SLP
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Concussion and the Speech-Language Pathologist's Role, Sarah Krusen, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS, Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22; Kimberly Everett, MS, St. Mary Medical Center
(Instructional Level: Intermediate)

The information presented will be useful to speech language pathologists to better define the role they may play with students returning to school following a mTBI. This presentation will provide knowledge of the signs and symptoms of Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS), how to appropriately plan for the student’s return to school. This presentation is relevant because the information has bearing on all schools and populations. Concussions/mTBI’s are a chronic issue in all schools and the information presented will give individuals valuable tools for recognizing and addressing these students’ needs.

Learner Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to understand the physiology of a concussion/mTBI and signs and symptoms of a concussion, understand how a concussion can affect a student’s academic performance in school, identify the role of a speech language pathologist for support for return to school, develop practical strategies for the student’s return to school following mTBI.
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Seminar 32                                      Multi-Interest
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Improving Social Interaction and Communication With an Interactive Language Program, Misty Standard, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, Milestones Therapy Associates and Minds on the Move; Andrea Pointer, MS, CCC-SLP, Kids Kount Therapy Services; Ron Minson, MD, Center for Inner Change
(Instructional Level: Intermediate)

Today therapists are faced with the challenge of helping their clients achieve the greatest possible gains in the least amount of time due to the increasing demands for cost-containment from 3rd party payor sources. While many more traditional therapies utilize a top-down approach, current research points to the benefits of combining top-down and bottom-up approaches to achieve the most rapid outcomes. The development of Interactive Language Program was a collaborative effort by audiologists, speech language pathologists, and Dr. Minson to more specifically work on language processing deficits they observed in their patients. Even in the face of good receptive language skills, many children could not enunciate clearly and fluidly. Using the Interactive Language Program gave them the ability to clearly hear and feel their own voice through audible and mechanical feedback. This provides the child with immediate motor and auditory feedback and control of the motor skills involved in speech, thus accelerating the rate at which expressive language was integrated. The system consists of high quality bone conduction headphones, an amplifier with volume and balance control, a microphone and a monitor headphone for the therapist. Included are many exercises for vocalization practice, auditory memory, songs for prosody of speech, articulation and the items noted below for improved communication, learning and successful social interaction.

Learner Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to describe the benefits of combining a top-down and bottom-up approach to therapy, describe three specific ways to incorporate an Interactive Language Program into your practice, assess whether or not you are utilizing a multi-modal approach to intervention.
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