The Role of the SLP in Supporting Healthcare Needs of Neurodiverse Older People

SLP – this podcast may help you meet your continuing education requirements. Access Relias Academy to review course certificate information.

Is neurodiversity considered a normal variation? How can you modify your interactions and the environment to accommodate the needs of neurodiverse people? What is your role in advocating for these individuals in a healthcare setting to promote optimal communication? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Pamela Smith, a professor of speech-language pathology at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, about how the healthcare team can support the needs of neurodiverse older individuals.

 

(01:24) Neurodiversity: A Normal Variation

(02:39) Description of Neurodiversity

(05:30) Neurodiversity Acceptance

(11:38) Neurotypical Privilege

(14:19) Person First Language

(18:09) Aging and Neurodiversity

(23:40) Neurodiversity Diagnosis in Late Life

(25:06) Screening

(25:43) Person-Centered Care

(28:08) SLP’s Role with Neurodiverse Older Adults

(32:37) Documentation

(37:03) Communication Recommendations for Healthcare Facilities

(46:09) Comparison to Approaches with Neurodiverse Children

(48:22) Practice-Based Evidence

(49:42) Conclusion

The content for this course was created by Pamela A. Smith, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, FNAP.

The content for this course was created by Susan Almon-Matangos, MS/CCC-SLP

Here is how Relias can help you earn continuing education credits: 

Access your Relias Library offered by your employer to see course certificate information and exam; 
or 
Access the continuing education library for clinicians at Relias Academy. Review the course certificate information, and if eligible, you can purchase the course to access the course exam and receive your certificate.

Learn more about Relias at www.relias.com.  

Legal Disclaimer: The content of Stretch: Relias Rehab Therapy Education is provided only for educational and training purposes for healthcare professionals. The educational material provided in this podcast should not be used as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.

Resources

Blog by an individual diagnosed with autism later in life (“Old Lady with Autism”): https://oldladywithautism.blog/

 

Blog post on neurotypical privilege (Enright, 2021): https://medium.com/artfullyautistic/neurotypical-privilege-690f0e14d370

 

Downloadable tests from the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre: https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/tests/

 

Healthcare toolkit from Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) to improve healthcare access and quality for adults on the autism spectrum: https://autismandhealth.org/

 

Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, useful resources that apply across the life span.   http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/p/resources.html