Course Description

This advanced, interactive course is designed for clinicians who have foundational knowledge and experience using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in dysphagia intervention and are ready to take their clinical practice to the next level. Participants will move beyond basic electrode placement to develop advanced clinical reasoning skills for integrating NMES into individualized, meaningful, and effective pediatric swallowing treatment. Through a dynamic combination of evidence review, swallowing physiology and kinesiology, instrumental assessment interpretation, parameter selection, hands-on application, videos, complex case studies and discussion, participants will learn to identify physiologic treatment targets and develop defensible, patient-specific intervention plans. Key components of successful pediatric NMES treatment—including electrical stimulation principles, electrode placement, muscle physiology, swallowing biomechanics, dynamic systems theory, and the complex interplay of sensory and motor systems—will be explored and applied throughout the course.

Designed specifically to take the certified pediatric provider beyond the basics, this course challenges clinicians to think critically about the “why” behind treatment decisions. Participants will strengthen their evaluation skills, clinical analysis, treatment planning, and intervention strategies while learning how to integrate NMES into functional, individualized therapy. Treatment techniques and practical clinical pearls are woven throughout the course, emphasizing the key ingredients that can contribute to successful outcomes. Get ready to think, problem-solve, discuss, and occasionally rethink what you thought you knew! Through engaging videos, real-world case studies, participants will sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills to more efficiently and effectively evaluate and treat complex pediatric dysphagia. Participants will leave with fresh therapy ideas, increased clinical confidence, and an expanded treatment toolbox. Most importantly, clinicians will feel empowered to thoughtfully apply advanced NMES principles and clinical reasoning to maximize each child's potential and support meaningful improvements in swallowing function and quality of life.

Completion of this course includes a 25-question exam and submission of a course evaluation

Disclosure:  This course only covers information that pertains to the effective and safe use of NMES treatment during swallowing therapy taught in the DINES Specialty Certification courses.

Prerequisites:

• Registrants must be DINES specialty certified holding the Pediatric Certification, OR
• Due to the fragile nature of pediatrics and the dynamic interplay of systems that are working together for successful feedings, registrants who have taken the DINES certification covering adults are required to complete the “Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Skill Acquisition around Developmental Milestones” course to ensure a foundational knowledge of the developing pediatric patient prior to registration for this course. AND/OR attend the Pediatric 1-Day Add-on DINES course (online or in-person)