Head, Neck, and Oral Cancer (HNOC) (Rutherford -Live Interactive Webinar)

Course overview

The late effects of radiation for head, neck, and oral cancer (HNOC) present a unique challenge for the speech-language pathologist. Chronic radiation-acquired dysphagia (C-RAD) presents a different set of characteristics, social implications, and progression over time. Factors such as trismus, dentition loss, xerostomia, mucositis, osteoradionecrosis, post treatment lymphedema, fi brosis, and neuropathy negatively affect swallowing function years after treatment. (Goyal, 2022) Understanding the impact of long-standing dysphagia on the psychosocial aspect of quality of life is fundamental to establishing a benefi cial relationship with patients and their family members, (Dornan, 2022) As a clinician, understanding the nuances of the interaction of defi cits on quality of life as well as safety of oral intake, is paramount. ((Rogers, 2022) This course will provide an outline of characteristics of late effects of radiation. Learners will feel more comfortable with developing a management plan for chronic radiation acquired dysphagia (C-RAD) s/p cancer treatment. Clinicians will have recommended evidence-based treatment modalities for C-RAD population (further training for specific credentialing may be required).