ASHA Learning Pass

SLPs in health care settings play a fundamental role as team members working toward ventilator liberation and eventual decannulation for patients with tracheostomy tubes. This session will discuss processes and considerations for ventilator weaning and decannulation, including secretion management techniques; impacts of cuff deflation, speaking valve use, or above the cuff phonation; and use of stoma stents. The presenter will also speak to the critical role SLPs play in educating patients and their families about the ventilator weaning and decannulation processes, reducing fear and other negative emotions and making weaning and decannulation trials more successful and comfortable.

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:

• Provide education to patients, families, and staff about the ventilator weaning and decannulation processes
• List the critical predictors of successful and unsuccessful ventilator weaning and discus the SLP’s role in each
• Demonstrate using diagrams or models how downsizing tracheostomy tubes impacts upper airway sensation and ability to breathe

Related Courses

See more sessions from Airway Fundamentals: Considerations for SLP Decision-Making.

Presenter Information

Roxann Diez Gross, PhD, CCC-SLP (she/her/hers) is an ASHA Fellow and consultant and clinical specialist for Swallowing Diagnostics, Inc., in Parkland, Florida. She has served as principal investigator on several research grants. Her work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed and invited publications as well as frequent invitations to lecture both nationally and internationally. Her research study that developed a method and apparatus for quantifying pharyngeal residue was granted a U.S. patent.

Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Royalties from Plural Publishing and Northern Speech Services
• Income from Swallowing Diagnostics, Inc.

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 the learning assessment by 11:59 p.m. ET on the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Online conference dates: June 5–17, 2024, November 6-18, 2024
End date: July 3, 2030

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