TIMS University Webinar

Healthy Aging or Impairment? Up-to-Date Evidence to Drive Clinical Practice in Considering Swallowing Physiology

September 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM EST | 0.1 ASHA CEUS / 1 PDH

Course Instructors

Kendrea Garand PhD, CScD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Dr. Garand is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. She is currently Editor-in-Chief of ASHA Perspectives of the Special Interest Groups journals and Chairperson of the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (ABSSD). Her primary research interests include the impact of aging, motor neuron disease, and sleep-related disorders on swallowing function. Her work has been funded through the Veterans Affairs, ASHFoundation, and the University of South Alabama. You may find some of her scholarly contributions in Dysphagia, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, and Sleep and Breathing. Lastly, she continues to provide clinical services to patients as an clinical supervisor for graduate students in speech-language pathology.

Disclosures

Salary, University of Pittsburgh; Speaker fee, TIMS; Grants, VA, NIH, ASHFoundation

Course Information

Description

This course explores the distinction between typical age-related changes in swallowing and pathological alterations in adults. Participants will learn to define presbyphagia, describe how aging affects swallowing physiology, and differentiate normal from impaired swallow function. The course includes a review of swallow variability with an emphasis on aging, providing evidence-based insights to inform clinical decision-making and optimize patient care.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Define presbyphagia.

  2. Describe age-related changes to the swallowing mechanism, including how it impacts swallowing function.

  3. Differentiate typical swallow performance from pathological alterations in adults.

Agenda

7:00 - 7:05 Introduction, disclosures and learning outcomes

7:06 - 7:14 Age-related changes to the swallow mechanism

7:15 - 7:49 Swallow variability, with a focus on the impact of aging

7:50 - 8:00 Summary and Q&A

Satisfactory Course Completion Requirements

To successfully complete the course, participants must attend the entire live event and submit the post-course survey.