ASHA Learning Pass

This session provides the framework required to evaluate and treat swallowing difficulties for patients who require high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. The presenter reviews typical breathing and swallowing relationships, highlighting the impact altered respiratory conditions have on the swallow. The session also includes extensive discussion of high flow nasal cannula, its impact on the upper aerodigestive tract, and potential effects on physiologic swallowing. The presenter discusses the importance of patient candidacy for dysphagia treatments in this population.

This is a recorded session from a 2024 ASHA online conference, Airway Fundamentals: Considerations for SLP Decision-Making.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Identify risks for aspiration related to respiratory distress and high oxygen requirements
• Summarize the literature investigating effects of high flow oxygen therapy on adult swallowing function
• Integrate research findings into clinical decision-making approaches when evaluating and treating swallowing in patients who require high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy

Presenter Information

Rory O'Bryan, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S (she/her/hers) is a Senior Speech Pathologist and Board-Certified Specialist in Swallowing at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. She also serves as a fee basis employee at the Durham VA Medical Center. Clinical interests include dysphagia in pulmonary critical care, tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent patient populations, as well as neurogenic dysphagia. She established and continues to lead her hospital’s multidisciplinary tracheostomy team and has been instrumental in developing and bringing Respiratory Muscle Training, In-Line Passy-Muir Valve, and IDDSI programs to Duke Regional Hospital. She has published, presented, and been a podcast speaker on oxygen therapies, mechanical ventilation, and swallowing. Ms. O'Bryan earned her Master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of North Carolina in 2010 and her Bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Michigan. Outside of work, Rory enjoys spending time with her husband and two young kids, exercising outdoors, and traveling with friends.

Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete and submit the learning assessment by the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Online conference dates: June 5–17, 2024; November 6-18, 2024
End date: March 17, 2030

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).