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The Essentials: Dysphagia and Cervical Spine Issues

presented by Angela Mansolillo, MA/CCC-SLP, BCS-S

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Disclosure Statement:

Financial: Angela Mansolillo receives compensation from MedBridge for this course. There is no financial interest beyond the production of this course.

Non-Financial: Angela Mansolillo has no competing non-financial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.

Satisfactory completion requirements: All disciplines must complete learning assessments to be awarded credit, no minimum score required unless otherwise specified within the course.

MedBridge is committed to accessibility for all of our subscribers. If you are in need of a disability-related accommodation, please contact [email protected]. We will process requests for reasonable accommodation and will provide reasonable accommodations where appropriate, in a prompt and efficient manner.

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Video Runtime: 34 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 12 Minutes

Dysphagia is a symptom, not a disease unto itself. Difficulty swallowing can be a symptom of a wide variety of medical diagnoses. The underlying diagnosis is a critical factor to consider when developing a treatment approach. Dysphagia clinicians must guard against a "one-size-fits-all" approach and instead develop an understanding of the causative factors and pathophysiology of swallowing disorders in each disease process.

This course will discuss dysphagia in the setting of cervical spine disorders. The characteristics of dysphagia in patients with cervical spine disorders, including patients with osteophytes, patients with cervical bracing, and postsurgical patients, will be reviewed. Specific considerations for assessment of these patients will be discussed, including the impacts of edema, inflammation, nerve damage, and pain. The evidence base for treatment strategies specific to cervical spine issues will be presented, and participants will be provided with an opportunity for problem-solving through case review.

This course is appropriate for dysphagia clinicians working in medical settings, including acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care.

Meet Your Instructor

Angela Mansolillo, MA/CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Angela Mansolillo is a speech-language pathologist and board-certified specialist in swallowing disorders with more than 25 years of experience. She is currently a senior speech-language pathologist at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she provides evaluation and treatment services for adults and children with dysphagia and is involved in program planning and development for…

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Chapters & Learning Objectives

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1. Cervical Spine Disorders: What the Dysphagia Clinician Needs to Know

This chapter will provide an overview of cervical spine disorders for the dysphagia clinician. Cervical spine surgeries, osteophytes, and cervical bracing will be discussed to provide the clinician with an understanding of the relationship between swallowing and the spine.

2. Dysphagia and Cervical Spine Disorders

This chapter will describe dysphagia as it manifests in patients with cervical spine disorders. Signs and symptoms of dysphagia will be reviewed, and factors specific to assessment of these patients will be discussed, including the impact of edema, nerve damage, compression, and restrictions in movement and swallow function.

3. Intervention Strategies

This chapter will provide a discussion of the evidence base for management strategies for patients with cervical spine issues. Intervention techniques that have been specifically targeted for these patients will be highlighted, including the impact of pain and inflammation management. Contraindications, including maneuvers that require neck flexion, will also be discussed.

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