Observe or participate in a swallowing assessment session (5 points)

Observe a swallowing assessment session, which can include clinical and/or instrumental methods. Write a summary of the observation, including the materials and assessment instruments utilized, the findings of the assessment (these can be your informal judgments if necessary) and your reflections about the session. Two pages will likely be sufficient to summarize and reflect on a session.

Observe or participate in a swallowing treatment session (5 points)

Observe a swallowing treatment session. Your observation must include at least 30 minutes of direct contact time, therefore more than one session may be necessary, depending on the setting. Write a summary of the observation, including the materials and treatment protocols utilized, the performance of the client (these can be your informal judgments if necessary) and your reflections about the session. Two pages will likely be sufficient to summarize and reflect on a session.

Research a topic on the Dysphagia Listserv Archive (5 points)

An archive of the discussions on the SID 13 Listserv is maintained at www.dysphagia.com. Research a topic of interest and write of summary of the information you gain. Your summary should include

• a brief description of your search strategy (terms you searched under, etc.)
• a summary of the information you found
• a critical review of the information (review the evidence that the information is sound)
• a reference listing of the listserv submissions consulted in your review

Diversity document review (variable points)

Review up to 3 documents (journal articles, books, or chapters) which describe variations in feeding behaviors related to differences in age, gender, or culture. Summarize and critique the documents you reviewed. If more than one document is reviewed, integrate the information as well as point out inconsistencies across documents while attempting to reconcile any perceived differences.

General guidelines:

• in your summary, state explicitly the differences communication or feeding the document describes
• in your critique, discuss the validity and/or generalizability of the findings, based on the sample study or the analysis method used.
• if you review more than one document, I will look for evidence of analysis and synthesis of the information. Specific features I will look for include:
  • discussion of how the documents related similar or different information
  • attempts to explain similarities or differences in findings
  • discussion of how the information presented in either/both documents relates back to course content, and how you can apply this new knowledge
• A single page for each document reviewed is probably adequate, with an additional one to two pages for additional discussion as indicated above

This project should be completed independently

Review of one document (5 points)
two documents (10 points)

Develop an inservice (10 points)

Develop a video inservice for health care personnel.  The content should relate to identifying or managing swallowing disorders and may target any number of audiences, including:

• staff nurses
• dietary staff
• medical students or residents
• home health aides
• others

Include a handout and self-quiz for participants.