2 L-CERPs + 2 CEUs

Teaming Up with SLPs to Improve Infant Sucking and Swallowing Skills

Stephanie Tolley, M.S., CCC-SLP, CLC
Course description
Lactation professionals are often one of the first involved in providing infant feeding support and have the responsibility of early detection and management of infant feeding problems. This includes addressing problems with infant sucking skills and screening for swallowing concerns or other medical comorbidities that may necessitate referrals such as to a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). This course will provide evidence-based information on oral dysfunction and differentiate possible signs swallowing concerns to facilitate appropriate referrals as needed. Strategies to improve sucking and promote safe swallowing will also be discussed. Case studies demonstrating different scenarios where SLP and IBCLC may collaborate will be presented.
Meet the Instructor

Stephanie Tolley, M.S., CCC-SLP, CLC

Stork to Fork was founded by Stephanie Tolley, M.S., CCC-SLP to provide support to families of infants and children experiencing unique feeding challenges in their home environment. Stephanie is North and South Carolina licensed and ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She has been providing feeding, swallowing, and communication therapy to families in the Charlotte area since 2011 and has practiced in outpatient hospital, home-health, daycare, private practice, and school settings. She is specialized in oral function, feeding, and swallowing problems from infancy through adolescence. Stephanie utilizes a family-centered and responsive approach with emphasis on parent/caregiver coaching, education, and training. A family’s feeding journey is often multifaceted and may require collaboration with a team of professionals. Stephanie views direct communication between members of this team as essential to the treatment process and reducing burden on the family. When Stephanie is not helping families, she enjoys getting outside with her husband, Robert, and #darladog for hiking, yoga (yes, Darla does yoga too), or exploring the city.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Learners say 

The case studies in this class are phenomenal and I appreciated them so greatly! It was nice to see complex situations and to learn about things that are not as common and that need other help apart from the group of people that you'd think would be involved. Great, great presentation! 

-Alexandra Strouse, RN, BSN, IBCLC

This course allowed me to better understand the potential feeding issues my clients are having.

- Alicia Farina, IBCLC

Such wonderful information. 

-Tabitha Bassett

Start learning now!

Knowledge Gap
Under-identification of and delayed interventions for infant feeding problems can contribute to persistent breast/chest feeding problems and early discontinuation, suboptimal feeding quality, and potentially inadequate nutrition and hydration in the infant. This course seeks to provide an overview of problematic infant feeding signs/symptoms and the dynamic interplay between the role of the IBCLC and SLP in complex feeding issues to promote early identification and timely referrals.
Objectives

01

List 3 medical etiologies for sucking and swallowing dysfunction in infants

02

Identify signs/symptoms of a swallowing disorder that warrant SLP referral

03

Differentiate 2 types of instrumental swallow studies used to assess infant dysphagia 

04

Utilize strategies to support sucking and safe swallowing skills in infants
IBLCE Content Outline
I. A3 - Infant anatomy and anatomical/oral challenges

Course Lessons

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