Concussions from School Sports

Concussion statistics are alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year at least 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur either as an isolated injury or along with other injuries.

Therapy for students post concussion often involve training to increase speed of information processing, improving working memory, sustaining attention and increasing reaction time.

Depending on the severity of the injury, executive functioning may also be involved. Whatever challenges the student athlete may have had before the injury may be exacerbated with the concussion. Each student and every injury is individualized which is another reason for pre-and post testing.

In December 2012, The Boston Globe reported that 350 public and private high schools in Massachusetts are using ImPACT, a computerized cognitive test that students take before they play so they have a baseline for comparison after a head injury.

Where Can You Find Resources?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has numerous resources for professionals and parents who have to make decisions involving concussions. Also, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) podcast provides care tips for parents, educators, and athletes alike.

Practical Strategies for Treatment of Common Voice Disorders

On Wednesday, August 15, 2012, we hosted Carol K. Krusemark, M.A., CCC-SLP, a speech pathologist/singing voice specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation (the “Voice Center”) to present a Continuing Education workshop titled, “Practical Strategies for Treatment of Common Voice Disorders”. As a vocalist and former singing voice teacher, Carol brought her understanding of voice terminology and techniques from her work with vocalists, as well as, her medical speech pathology background to help us better understanding vocal function.

The presentation slides were available as handouts which allowed participants the opportunity to write notes for future references.

The goals of the workshop included:

1. Name and demonstrate at least three semi-occluded vocal tract tasks, their effect on laryngeal physiology, and their use.

2. Identify and demonstrate two to three strategies to reduce posterior glottic gap and resultant breathy production.

3. Identify the following bony, cartilaginous, and muscular structures associated with laryngeal function via palpation.

4. Demonstrate basic circumlaryngeal massage.

Given the small classroom setting, participants had the opportunity to practice a number of hands-on exercises with the presenter.

Communicative Health Care Associates is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology. We host a number of different programs from June through October each year in our Waltham, MA office. Check What’s New for details. The next program will be held on September 19th, 2012 and October 17th, 2012. Contact us at info [at] CommunicativeHealthCare [dot] com if you would like to receive updates on our future continuing education workshops.

Spoken and Written Language: From Evaluation to Intervention

Communicative Health Care Associates (CHCA) is sponsoring a Continuing Education entitled, “Spoken and Written Language: From Evaluation to Intervention” on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at our office located at 977 Main Street, Waltham, MA, 02451. CHCA is an approved ASHA provider.

The speakers will be Melissa Caron Ghiringhelli, M.S., CCC-SLP, a bilingual (English/Spanish) pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Reading Specialist, and Jeana Kaplan, M.S., CCC-SLP, a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, both of whom are employed at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Jeana Kaplan also is employed at Harbor Area Early Childhood Services. Melissa’s areas of interest include developmental language, reading, and autism spectrum disorders. She piloted the Reading for Meaning groups that she now conducts jointly with a colleague at the Chelsea and Revere Healthcare Centers. She has presented on topics related to reading and reading disorders both locally and nationally. Jeana’s particular interests include the early intervention population, developmental reading disorders, school-aged language and phonological disorders as well as autism spectrum disorders. Jeana co-leads Reading for Meaning and phonology groups also at the Chelsea and Revere Healthcare Centers.

ASHA Disclosure Forms have been completed by both speakers from which it was determined that there is no conflict of interest in the form of relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

∗ Explain the contribution of oral language delay/disorder in the profile of a child with written language deficits.

∗ Identify foundational skills necessary for reading comprehension.

∗ Identify an assessment battery to evaluate reading comprehension.

∗ Identify specific therapy activities to improve reading comprehension.

This program is offered for 0.2 CEUs (Intermediate level: Professional area).

An annual ASHA Continuing Registry fee is required to register ASHA CEUs. This registry fee is paid by the participant directly to the ASHA National Office. The registry fee ($30 for ASHA or NSSLHA members; $35 for non-members) allows registration of an unlimited number of ASHA CEUs for the calendar year. Contact the ASHA CE Division at 301-897-5700 for CE fee subscription.

There is a $49 per person course fee for this program, which includes a light supper served at 5:30 P.M. The formal program starts at 6:00 P.M.

To reserve a place, contact Peg in our office at 781-899-4709 or via email (info [at] CommunicativeHealthCare [dot] com) by Friday, September 14th. Seating is limited.

Practical Strategies for Treatment of Common Voice Disorders

Communicative Health Care Associates (CHCA) is sponsoring a Continuing Education workshop entitled, “Practical Strategies for Treatment of Common Voice Disorders” on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012, from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at our office, 977 Main Street, Waltham, MA, 02451. The speaker will be Carol K. Krusemark, M.A., CCC-SLP, who is a speech pathologist/singing voice specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation (the “Voice Center”). Her current clinical focus includes rehabilitation of the speaking and the singing voice. Patients range from amateur vocalists to vocal professionals with muscle tension dysphonia, vocal fold immobility, vocal fold pathology (nodules, polyps, scar, granuloma), Parkinson’s disease, and total laryngectomy.

As a vocalist and former singing voice teacher, Carol brings her understanding of voice terminology and technique to her work with vocalists, while her medical speech pathology background informs her understanding of vocal function.

Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

1. Name and demonstrate at least three semi-occluded vocal tract tasks, their effect on laryngeal physiology, and their use.

2. Identify and demonstrate two to three strategies to reduce posterior glottic gap and resultant breathy production.

3. Identify the following bony, cartilaginous, and muscular structures associated with laryngeal function via palpation.

4. Demonstrate basic circumlaryngeal massage.

This program is offered for 0.2 CEUs (Intermediate level: Professional area). CHCA is an approved American Speech-Language Hearing (ASHA) provider.

ASHA CE approval does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.

An annual ASHA Continuing Registry fee is required to register ASHA CEUs. This registry fee is paid by the participant directly to the ASHA National Office. The registry fee ($30 for ASHA or NSSLHA members; $35 for non-members) allows registration of an unlimited number of ASHA CEUs for the calendar year. Contact the ASHA CE Division at 301-897-5700 for CE fee subscription. ASHA Disclosure Forms have been completed from which it was determined that there is no conflict of interest in the form of relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

There will be a $49 per person course fee for this program, which includes a supper. Please R.S.V.P. by calling our office at 781-899-4709 by Friday, August 10th to reserve a place since seating is limited.

Learn How to Develop a Plan for Strategic Analysis of Dysphagia and Formulate an Organized Treatment Plan

On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Communicative Health Care Associates will host a Continuing Education workshop with Elizabeth A. Pomerleau, M.S., CCC-SLP, who specializes in pediatric dysphagia and the speech pathologist’s role in the treatment of esophageal dysfunction. Pomerleau is a speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience, and is Director of Dysphagia Associates, which is committed to training, education, and research in dysphagia.  She lectures both locally and nationally, and has created a Dysphagia Center which includes MBS, FEES, ph Probe Testing and manometry and V stim.

Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

1. Identify the elements of normal oral pharyngeal development.

2. Identify significant aspects of the suck/swallow/breath synchrony.

3 . Identify significant aspects in the development of conditional dysphagia.

4. Develop plan for strategic analysis of dysphagia and formulate organized treatment plan.

This program is offered for 0.2 CEUs (Intermediate level:  Professional area).  ASHA CE approval does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.

An annual ASHA Continuing Registry fee is required to register ASHA CEUs.  This registry fee is paid by the participant directly to the ASHA National Office.  The registry fee ($30 for ASHA or NSSLHA members; $35 for non-members) allows registration of an unlimited number of ASHA CEUs for the calendar year.  Contact the ASHA CE Division at 301-897-5700 for CE fee subscription. ASHA Disclosure Forms have been completed from which it was determined that there is no conflict of interest in the form of relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

There is a $49 per person course fee for this program, which includes a supper.  Please R.S.V.P. by calling 781-899-4709  to reserve a place since seating is limited.

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