Live Webinar for Therapists. Complete both sessions for 13 Contact Hours (1.3 CEUs)
October 24 and 25, 2025
9:10 am EST • 8:10 am CST • 7:10 am MST• 6:10 am PST (US)
EARLY BIRD RATE!
Register by September 12, 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 is a speech-language pathologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of oral, pharyngeal, feeding/swallowing, and respiratory coordination function in infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with primary neuromotor, musculoskeletal, and sensory systems impairments. She maintains a private practice; provides consultation services; provides short-term treatment intensives; and conducts workshops/courses/seminars/webinars on oral movement, oral sensory, pharyngeal, feeding/swallowing, and thoracic cage/respiratory coordination development, assessment, and treatment.
Dr. Alexander is an active advanced speech instructor in Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT). She has contributed chapters on oral, pharyngeal, feeding/swallowing, and rib cage/respiratory coordination function to numerous publications; is co-author of the book entitled, Normal Development of Functional Motor Skills: The First Year of Life; is author of the CEU product, Focus on the Rib Cage for Improvement of Respiration, Phonation, Movement, and Postural Control; and is co-developer of the CEU product, The ABCs of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing.
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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