Portfolio

Your dysphagia portfolio will serve as a clinical resource and also as evidence of competence in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of dysphagia. You may turn in a draft of each portfolio assignment by the due date indicated in the course schedule if you would like feedback from Dr. Clark. The final portfolio is due March 5.

Normal Swallow (10 pts)

Develop a summary of the normal swallow. Include an overview of variations in the normal swallow related to age, culture, bolus properties, etc. Your summary should be in "cheat sheet" format: avoid lengthy narratives, but include graphics, tables, outlines, etc. to facilitate reading.

Impairments, Signs, and Symptoms (25 pts)

Develop a summary of common impairments contributing to swallowing disorders, the clinical signs resulting from those impairments, and the physical symptoms associated with the impairments and signs. Your summary should be in "cheat sheet" format: avoid lengthy narratives, but include graphics, tables, outlines, etc. to facilitate reading. Your summary should show evidence of integration.

Clinical Protocol (25 pts)

Develop a protocol for the clinical (bedside) assessment of swallowing. Your protocol should include:

• key historical information to be gleaned from the medical history and/or patient/family interview
• description of all elicitation procedures
• behaviors to be observed
• method for recording responses

Instrumental Assessment (10 pts)

Compare and contrast the two primary instrumental assessment tools for dysphagia: MBS and FEES. The final product should in a format that will help you determine which assessment tool might be most appropriate for any given patient.

Treatment Guidesheets (25 pts)

Develop a set of guidesheets to assist you in selecting management strategies for individuals with dysphagia. Your guidesheets should indicate whether a strategy is compensatory or remedial as well as list any contra-indications. Include a brief description of any treatment strategies that are unique to dysphagia (e.g., Mendelsohn maneuver). Your guidesheets should be in cheat sheet format: avoid lengthy narratives, but include graphics, tables, outlines, etc. to facilitate reading; show evidence of integration.

Additional Features of Portfolio (5 pts)

• Table of contents
• Reference list
  • all resources consulting in the development of your portfolio should be cited, both in the text and by a reference list
  • copyright information (see below)

Students are encouraged to develop original materials for all components of the portfolio. However, if commercial or other non-original materials are included in the portfolio, a copy of the copyright information for those materials must also be included in the portfolio.

Competencies

What's a competency? ASHA requires that students demonstrate both knowledge and skills related to the management of communication and swallowing disorders. The portfolio, quizzes, and exam assess your knowledge of the course material. The competencies will assess your skill in the execution of a variety of clinical methods.

• Clinical (bedside) swallowing exam
  • to be conducted in class
  • each student will conduct a clinical swallowing exam, including oral motor exam, on another student
• MBS
  • to be conducted outside of class
  • in small groups, students will review and rate 5 modified barium swallow studies
• Treatment
  • to be conducted in class
  • each student will demonstrate the ability to execute two swallowing maneuvers: supraglottic swallow and Mendelsohn maneuver