[Dysphagia] Qualifications

[TBAGGS at astate.edu (TERRY W. BAGGS)]

Irene

 

I have always appreciated your desire to operate solely from facts that
come from the latest research.  I just wish that you could be equally
concerned with getting the facts before you paint a profession with a
large brush as being inadequately trained.  It is insulting and places
everyone in the same box.

 

There are training programs that have rigorous requirements for entry,
even at the undergraduate level.  We require multiple science courses
with a certain GPA as part of our admission criteria before a student
can take senior level undergraduate courses.  There are a number of
training programs that require an equivalent number of sciences,
compared to other health related professions.

 

Except for certain parts of the country where OTs do most of the
dysphagia treatment, you won't find anyone in these other professions
doing it.  So, I hope you don't have a CVA and need therapy.  Because
you won't find a nurse, dietician, physician, PT, neuropsychologist or
anyone else willing to do ongoing, direct patient care for dysphagia.
(And, yes, I believe in a team approach to treatment.)

 

It really doesn't matter what your background is.  You should be careful
about your words.  Perhaps you shouldn't present at workshops that are
geared primarily for SLPs (and sell your products to SLPs) because we
are too inadequately trained to understand what your talking about
anyway.

 

TB

 

 

 

 

________________________________

From: Drirenect@aol.com [mailto:Drirenect@aol.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 7:26 PM
To: dmhignight@comcast.net; TERRY W. BAGGS; dysphagia@b9.com
Subject: Re: [Dysphagia] Qualifications

 

OTs, Dietitians and others are required (so I believe) to have basic
sciences as a prerequisite. I would like someone to tell me how all of
this very complex information can be shoehorned into an undergraduate
and graduate program in speech. In my experience it is not possible.

I have taught voice and dysarthria and aphasia etc. etc. and have
written many of the questions on motor speech disorders for the CASLPA
exam. I should remind all of you that you know nothing of my background
and experience and would probably be very surprised if you did.