Estimates are that more than 2 million citizens of Canada and the USA continue to endure the hope-robbing and independence-depriving effects of aphasia and its related disorders. This highly interactive presentation shared with SLPs innovative treatment protocols, materials and technology-based tools that exploit neuroplasticity to enhance clinical skills and assist in the integration of existing scientific evidence and patient values into aphasia rehabilitation. The presentation format included: lecture, discussion and active participation. It also included the demonstration of and participation in real-time distance therapy (telepractice) and demonstration videos. Techniques to implement clinical, formative assessment and to facilitate data collection were presented as well smart ways to address weaknesses in the cognitive underpinnings for language recovery such as verbal working memory, flexibility of thought, problem solving and attention skills. Areas of focus also included treatments specific to: initiating self reliance and independent practice; training coaches; apraxia; auditory comprehension; alexia; letter-by-letter reading; agraphia; keyboarding; verbal working memory; attention; cost-benefit of intensive aphasia treatment; critical elements of acute vs. ongoing treatment; use of groups; and working with younger-generation clients with aphasia. The workshop is appropriate for all clinicians of all experiential levels including those focusing on school-age children.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
MA, CCC-SLP, Certified TCC provider
Bill Connors combines technology and neuroscience with current evidence to advance the treatment and recovery of acquired communication problems with a focus of delivering services at a distance. He has presented at numerous venues internationally, has provided treatment daily via telepractice for 11 years, and collaborates with SLPs worldwide online. A clinical instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, he also chaired its Medical Center’s SLP Rehab committee assisting on numerous aphasia-related research studies. He is a member of the American Telemedicine Association and serves on the telepractice committees of the PA and OH SLP associations. He is collaborating with Bloomsburg University, PA USA to introduce telepractice into the graduate CSD curriculum. Bill founded the Telepractice Certification Community and its website, telepracticecommunity.com®, in 2015 in order to provide training, information and ongoing professional and peer support for rehab specialists wanting to work with clients via telepractice.
ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.
Timeline |
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75 min: Define Aphasia and related disorders; intro to treatment and telepractice demo |
75 min: Review of neuroplasticity principles; Evidence-based practice discussion |
75 min: Addressing the effects of Apraxia on articulation, phonation and gestural representation, motor planning and execution. |
45 min: Addressing phonological and syllable structure issues. |
45 min: Incorporating work on the cognitive underpinnings for language |
30 min: Treatment techniques and materials for alexia and agraphia |
60 min: Program Design and implementation for neuroplasticity; discuss materials, technology and evidence-based support |
15 min: Summary, Q&A, Focus on propositional speech and fostering independence |
Financial | William Connors is a CEO and founder ofAphasiatoolbox.com and receives compensation from its sales. He received compensation for this presentation from SpeechTherapyPD.com. |
Nonfinancial | No relevant non-financial relationships exist. |