NMES and sEMG in Dysphagia Management: The Guardian Way®

Pediatrics and Adults

Course Schedule

This course is offered for 1.3 ASHA CEUs in an interactive live webinar format

Live Interactive Virtual Training

Two-Day Schedule (Times in CST)

Day 1

8:00 am - 8:15 amIntroduction to course
8:15 am - 9:00 amFundamentals of Swallowing
Assessment & Screening
Cranial Nerve Assessment
9:00 am - 9:30 am Prevalence and Management of Swallowing Dysfunction
9:30 am - 9:45 amIntroduction to Electrotherapy
9:45 am - 10:30 amExamining the Evidence
Historical Research
Current Evidence
Challenges of Interpretation
10:30 am - 11:45 amNeuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
Fundamental Principles of Electrotherapy
Parameters: Definitions and Customization to Individualize Treatment
11:45 am-12:15 pm Lunch Break
12:15 pm- 12:45 pmNeuroplasticity and Cortical Reorganization
The Guardian Way Protocol, Electrode Placement and Rationale
Determining Candidacy, Contraindications, Cautions
12:45 pm-1:45 pmFacial Stimulation
Etiology of Facial Nerve Dysfunction Anatomy/Physiology
Scoring Asymmetry
Electrode Placements
Rationale and Demonstration
1:45 pm – 2:00 pmElectrode Facts Materials and Construction
Impedance and Independent Testing
2:00pm – 2:30 pmGoals of treatment, Typical session, Demonstration

Day 2

8:00am - 8:30amReview of Electrotherapy, Questions and Answers
8:30am - 9:30am sEMG Fundamental Principles
Current Evidence
Typical Therapy Session Demo
9:30am - 10:30amLab 1 – sEMG
Placing and Securing Electrodes
Data Collection and Interpretation
Use of the Guardian Suite App
10:30am – 11:30amLab 2 – NMES with placement for pharyngeal dysphagia
Skilled introduction of NMES
Placing and Securing Electrodes
Introducing the Current
Assessing for Contraction
Adjusting the Parameters
11:30 am-12:00pmLunch Break
12:00pm - 12:45pmLab 3: NMES with Facial placement
Placing and Securing the Electrodes
Facial Placement 1
Facial Placement 2
Assessing for Contraction
Adjusting the Parameters
12:45pm - 1:15pmCase Studies
1:15pm - 2:00pmDocumentation
2:00pm - 2:15pmCompetency
2:15pm - 2:30pmReview, Questions and Answers
2:30pm - 3:00pmPost-Test & Post Course Evaluation
One-on-oneScheduled by appointment for each participant later the same day or at another
mutually agreeable time: 30 minutes (Questions, Competency and Skills
Assessment, Post Test Review, Additional NMES & sEMG features)