Course Description

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Patients with swallowing deficits (dysphagia) following sudden trauma (Stroke, TBI), generalized weakness (sarcopenia), or ablation therapies for head neck cancer often present with significant muscular weakness and issues with neuromuscular co-ordination of swallowing. The cumulative result is a deficit in neuromuscular strength, timing, and efficiency of swallow response. The McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP) has been developed to provide a comprehensive approach to the rehabilitation of these swallowing issues based upon the principles of exercise physiology. NOTE: This course is an intermediate to advanced course with a strong focus on a comprehensive approach to therapy for adult patients with dysphagia. Participants are expected to have direct experience with dysphagia therapy in adult patients. This intermediate to advanced course for experienced dysphagia therapists (SLPs and OTs) will introduce and teach specific concepts and procedures underlying the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP). The program focuses upon the progressive strengthening, reorganization, development and refinement of the components of the swallowing process to improve functional recovery. This course has been developed to provide the practicing dysphagia clinician with a research based, programmatic approach to adult dysphagia management.
The MDTP can be used with e-stim, biofeedback, both or alone. This course includes standard assessment strategies to facilitate consistent decision making and outcome measurement. The step by step progression of the program, rules to ‘advance’ or ‘regress’ in treatment, and strategies to document progress and outcomes will also be given. This course includes the application of a range of clinical and instrumental techniques necessary to gather assessment data to make treatment decisions in the MDTP program (i.e. MASA, FOIS, VFE/ FEES, VAS, and nutritional issues). Participants will learn how these principles are embedded into the MDTP and how to apply them to adult patients with dysphagia from various causes. The course will conclude with extensive and interactive case-based problem solving and treatment planning using the MDTP principles presented.
NOTE: Although not required, it is recommended that participants bring a laptop. Case examples and treatment planning exercises will be conducted via a CD that will be provided at the course. Approximately two hours.
The program is named after Hannibal McNeill, one of the early success stories in this program. This therapy program was developed through clinical research efforts in the Swallowing Research Laboratory at the University of Florida Health Science Center. Drs Crary and Carnaby-Mann have over 50 years of combined clinical and research experience which have contributed to the development of the MDTP.

Specific instruction will include:
•Assessment strategies that facilitate clinical decisions relevant to MDTP •Outcome measurement
•Use of a food hierarchy to advance oral intake in MDTP
•Application of modalities to the program such as sEMG biofeedback, estim, and triggered estim.
•Literature review and published clinical research to support the evidence base for principles and practices included within the MDTP.

All Participants will receive:
• CD with all problem-solving cases
• MDTP procedures manual
• Course Material, Traditional slide presentation
• References handout.