ASHA Learning Pass

The articles in this journal self-study provide clinically applicable evidence and critiques of current practices for working with older adults, with the goal of encouraging clinicians to go beyond treating impairments in isolation and instead to use patient-centered practices to increase life participation and quality of life. Two of the articles closely examine situations in long-term care facilities: (1) differing perceptions of food texture modification by professionals and staff and (2) improving communication opportunities for residents with aphasia in traditional long-term care facilities. The second two articles analyze interventions for individuals with cognitive impairment, addressing (1) improving behavioral symptoms by treating hearing loss and (2) providing direct communication intervention for individuals with moderate to severe dementia.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• summarize results and implications of how food texture modifications are perceived by long-term care professionals and staff
• describe how the culture of traditional long-term care facilities fails to address the psychosocial needs of residents with aphasia
• discuss how interventions for hearing loss positively impact behavior in individuals with cognitive impairment
• explain the efficacy of direct communication interventions for individuals in more advanced stages of dementia

Learning Assessment
Online, multiple-choice exam