Instructor:  Dr. Nancye Roussel
Office: Burke-Hawthorne Hall, Room 215
Office Phone: 482-6727
E-mail:  ncroussel@louisiana.edu
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Course Description:

 This course was designed to introduce graduate level clinicians in communicative disorders to the medical setting as a prospective work setting. Topics include specialized roles of the speech/language pathologist in the medical center setting, medical record keeping systems and terminology, evaluation and treatment of dysphagia, laryngectomee rehabilitation with emphasis on surgical voice restoration (T.E. puncture) and other topics of concern to the hospital-based clinician.

COMPETENCIES:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. read a medical chart and identify pertinent information for the diagnosis and management of patients referred to speech/language pathology service.
2. complete written documentation of a patient's diagnosis, progress and discharge plan.
3. discuss normal swallowing function and major disorders of deglutition.
4. select appropriate patients for evaluation of swallowing.
5. discuss the basic instrumental diagnostic examinations of dysphagia (videoflouroscopy, FEES, ultrasound imaging, manometry)
6. choose appropriate management strategies for dysphagic patients.
7. discuss modifications of diagnostic/management procedures for specialized populations i.e. infants/children, tracheotomized patients, etc.
8. discuss the anatomy and physiology of the patient post-laryngectomy
9. discuss the various communication options for patients with total laryngectomy
10. select appropriate candidates for tracheoesophageal fistulization/puncture (TEP) and tracheostoma valve
11. discuss important considerations in the fitting and care of the TE prosthesis and/or tracheostoma valve
12. understand the use, function and care of tracheotomy tubes and tracheostomy speaking valves

Textbooks:

Logemann, Jeri. (1998) Evaluation and Treatment of Swallowing
 Disorders. (Second Edition)Austin, Tx: Pro-Ed.  (Required)

For the laryngectomy section, we will use the chapter from the voice text - "Manual of Voice Therapy"  by Deem & Miller - addressing treatment for laryngeal cancer.  A copy of this chapter will be placed on reserve for those who have not yet had the voice class.  I will also place selected readings for the section on tracheostomy on reserve at a later date.
 
 

Class Attendance:

The student is responsible for attending class regularly.  The university attendance policy will be followed in the event a student accumulates excessive absences (pg 437, USL Undergraduate Bulletin).  It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor upon return from an absence (justified or unjustified) with regard to classwork missed.

Examinations and Grading:

 Students' performance in this course will be evaluated through the use of written exams and various in-class and out-of-class assignments.  Students will also complete a group project involving a written and oral presentation to the class.  Each exam or assignment will be assigned a point value at the instructor's discretion. Students will be informed of maximum points for each performance assessment assignment prior to the date exams are given or reports are due. Final grades in the class will be determined as a percentage of the total number of points on exams, reports and practical exams. Final letter grades will be assigned following the grading scale below:

 91 - 100    A
 82 - 90     B
 73 - 81   C
 68 - 72     D
 below 68    F

* denotes content areas in which multicultural issues will be discussed