Live Webinar for Therapists. Complete both sessions for 13 Contact Hours (1.3 CEUs)
June 19 and 20, 2025
9:10 am EST • 8:10 am CST • 7:10 am MST• 6:10 am PST (US)
EARLY BIRD RATE!
Register by May 8, 2025 to receive $20 off your registration. Enter coupon code EARLY20 at checkout to receive the discount. Must be used at time of registration.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This 2-day webinar has been designed for professionals who have a foundation of knowledge in the components of typical and atypical oral motor, oral sensory, feeding/swallowing, respiratory, and general movement development and their interrelationship. Primary emphasis will be placed on the development of appropriate intervention programming for infants and children with neuromuscular involvement who exhibit problems in oral, pharyngeal, feeding, swallowing, phonatory, and respiratory coordination function. Strategies to improve oral motor, oral sensory, pharyngeal, rib cage, and respiratory musculature activity will be discussed as they relate to findings obtained during a comprehensive clinical assessment. Differences between intervention strategies appropriate for direct treatment and for carryover activities such as mealtime feeding will be delineated.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Clinically assess oral pharyngeal, feeding/swallowing and respiratory coordination function in infants and young children
- Detail the essential components of comprehensive intervention programming for young children with neuromuscular involvement
- Implement effective body alignment/positioning for the modification of
oral, pharyngeal, and respiratory function in intervention programming
- Perform treatment strategies to improve the function of the cheeks/lips,
tongue, and jaw in children with neuromuscular involvement
AUDIENCE:
Professionals who have a foundation of knowledge in the components of typical and atypical oral, pharyngeal, feeding/swallowing, respiratory, and general movement development. Participants should have practical experience in providing assessment and treatment services for infants and children with neuromuscular involvement who exhibit problems in oral motor, oral sensory, pharyngeal, feeding, swallowing, phonatory, and respiratory coordination function.
Rona Alexander, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, C/NDT - A longtime member of the Education Resources faculty and an accomplished author, Rona Alexander is a speech-language pathologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of oral motor, feeding/swallowing, and respiratory-phonatory function in infants and children with neuromuscular involvement. Dr. Alexander is a qualified speech instructor in Neuro-Developmental Treatment, delivering expert clinical knowledge and a personable instructive style through her basic pediatric and advanced NDT courses. She is a co-author of the book, Normal Development of Functional Motor Skills: The First Year of Life, and co-developer of The ABCs of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing. She also has served as a member of the ASHA Steering Committee for Special Interest Division 13: Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. Dr. Alexander maintains a private practice, provides consultation services and conducts workshops on oral motor, feeding/swallowing, and respiratory coordination development, assessment and treatment.
DISCLOSURES:
Rona Alexander receives an honorarium from Education Resources, Inc., as well as royalty payments from Clinician's View and a co-author of the book published by The Hammill Institute on Disabilities. Non-Financial: She is a member of the NDTA and the NDTA Instructor Group.
Rona's class provides a systematic and wholistic view in assessing and treating feeding/swallowing. The class is great for different levels of feeding therapists. -Iwei C., OTR
I learned great techniques to prepare the oral mechanism including how to properly complete facial massage and oral exercises to elongate the cheek and lip musculature and provide sensory input. -Lesley L., OTR
Ms. Alexander's explanation of the GI medications and there impact on feeding was excellent. She explained the considerations of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems impact on feeding in an impactful way. -Rhonda M., OTR
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