Esophageal Dysphagia Part 1: Anatomy, Physiology, and Assessment

Presented by Joy Gaziano

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Description

This webinar is the first of five courses designed to assist clinicians in becoming informed dysphagia team members, allowing them to engage with gastroenterologists evaluating and treating esophageal dysfunction that leads to dysphagia. Traditionally, dysphagia management has been dichotomized into oropharyngeal and esophageal phases. However, increasingly we recognize the interdependence and interrelationships that exist within the aerodigestive system. Professional education has been discipline-specific, with little emphasis on the esophageal aspects of swallowing in speech-language pathology (SLP) training. In a health system that values accurate and timely assessment and treatment, SLPs can serve a vital collaborative role in identifying signs and symptoms of esophageal disorders when this practice gap is closed.

Mastery of this webinar content will aid clinicians in identifying normal esophageal structure and function. Clinicians will have a working knowledge of instrumental esophageal testing and incorporate the findings into a patient’s swallowing assessment. Finally, it will assist clinicians in structuring their swallowing assessment to include history-taking that may identify signs of esophageal dysfunction that lead to dysphagia.

Instructor

Joy Gaziano, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-S

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Learning Objectives

  • Attribute a rationale to expanding dysphagia assessment to include all domains of swallowing
  • Distinguish key components of normal esophageal anatomy and physiology
  • Categorize clinical characteristics of esophageal dysphagia to improve history taking
  • Analyze the purposes and significance of the results of four common instrumental assessments of the esophagus
  • Integrate clinical and instrumental findings in a case study to formulate a plan of care

Agenda

All times in Eastern Time.

6:00pm–6:10pm
Chapter 1: Why Should the SLP Know About the Esophagus?
6:10pm–6:25pm
Chapter 2: Basic anatomy and physiology of the normal esophagus
6:25pm–6:30pm
Chapter 3: Clinical interviewing for esophageal dysphagia
6:30pm–6:50pm
Chapter 4: Instrumental assessment of esophageal dysphagia
6:50pm–6:55pm
Break
6:55pm–7:10pm
Question and Answer Session

Medbridge is committed to accessibility for all of our subscribers. If you are in need of a disability-related accommodation, please contact [email protected] . We will process requests for reasonable accommodation and will provide reasonable accommodations where appropriate, in a prompt and efficient manner.

Details

  • July 22, 2025
  • 6:00pm-7:10pm EDT
    • SLPs, Intermediate
  • Register soon! Limited seats available.

* Available July 18

Disclaimer

Joy E. Gaziano, instructor for this educational event, receives compensation from Medbridge for this course. No one with the ability to control content has relevant relationship(s) to disclose.

Accreditation

Requirements

To receive CEU credit all disciplines must attend the webinar for the full duration, complete the quiz with a minimum score of 70%, and complete the participant survey.

"Live" CEUs

Even if this webinar is accredited for your discipline and location, it may not count as a “Live” CEU. of governing bodies that count our accredited webinars as “Live” CEUs.

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