IN-PERSON EVENT

MARCH 27^TH, 2026

2:00PM - 5:00PM

Xavier University - Xavier South - Room 402E 

Parking garage - $5. Pay in advance - https://commerce.cashnet.com/XUPD

Join a dynamic group of speakers for an afternoon discussing Locked in Syndrome, importance of the esophageal sweep on MBSs, and muscle tension dyphagia and muscle tension dysphonia.

2pm Deadlocked-A Patient and Therapist's Journey Through the Obstacles of Recovery 

Margaret “Maggie” Homer MCD SLP BCS-S & Scott Reddoch

3pm Checking the Pipes: The Importance of an Esophageal Sweep 

Jamie LeBoutillier, MS, CCC-SLP

4pm Avoiding the volleyball pass: Understanding muscle tension dysphagia and muscle tension dysphonia 

Brittany Klein Carlisle, MCD, CCC-SLP

Course Title: Deadlocked-A Patient and Therapist's Journey Through the Obstacles of Recovery 

Course abstract: Enter into a conversation between an SLP and an individual living with Locked in Syndrome (LiS) about the experience of being on both sides of the provision of speech therapy services in various healthcare settings. Individuals living with LiS, which often includes anarthria, complex communication needs (CCN) and severe dysphagia, are the true experts. This session will allow firsthand insight into effective interventions, challenges in navigating the medical system, and compensatory strategies that support self-advocacy. This presentation is an invitation to deepen your understanding, empathy, and skills to elevate the care and support you provide to all your patients. 

Speaker: Margaret “Maggie” Homer has over 15 years of experience in speech-language pathology with an emphasis on rehabilitation post brain and spinal cord injuries. In her role as Clinical Specialist Speech Language Pathology at Touro Hospital, LCMC Health she builds programs promoting patient-centered and evidence-based practices. She is the lead clinician for the Assistive Technology (AT) Lab at Touro Hospital. 

The AT Lab promotes early trials and use of assistive technology to promote return to activities of interest while patients undergo intensive rehabilitation. Maggie’s passion for early assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions has led to her presenting both locally and nationally. 

Maggie has a master’s degree in communication disorders from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Also, she became a board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders in 2023. Maggie is proud to serve on the board of Make Good Nola a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to helping people and children with special needs, disabilities and chronic conditions through offering both open sourced and custom assistive devices. 

Non-financial Disclosures: Board member of Make Good Nola 501 (c) 3 non-profit

Financial Disclosures: Salaried employee of Touro Hospital LCMC Health

Speaker: Scott Reddoch was diagnosed with locked in syndrome and is non-verbal and quadriplegic. Through eye-gaze technology he is able to communicate and write about life with this condition. He aims to share his experience with health care providers so that they can provide a better outcome to their patients. Founder at AI startup routeskout, a non-profit platform for accessibility navigation. Hybrid employee/volunteer at Make Good, creating 3-D printed designs that solve issues for the mobility challenged. Consultant to Axion Labs, a tech company designing a non-invasive brain computer interface. Writer at scottreddoch.com regular contributor of personal stories to various online platforms. 

Non-financial Disclosures:  Hybrid employee/volunteer at Make Good

Financial Disclosures: Hybrid employee/volunteer at Make Good-Scott Reddoch 

Learning Outcome(s): 

• Explain three specific interventions used in speech therapy that significantly improved the daily functioning of an individual with LiS/CCN 

• Will define the 3 most impactful traits for recovery not taught in undergraduate and graduate degree programs 

• Examine one prevalent myth or bias that may influence speech-language pathologists' perceptions and effectiveness in providing care to patients with LiS/CCN. 

Learners will be required to complete a self assessment at the end of this course.

Course Title:  Checking the Pipes: The Importance of an Esophageal Sweep 

Course Description: This course discusses the role of speech-language pathologists in scanning the esophagus during Modified Barium Swallow Studies.  It will discuss the method, rationale, and literature related to the esophageal sweep and screening for esophageal dysphagia. It will describe how the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases of swallowing are interrelated. Participants will learn how to describe issues related to motility or structure of the esophagus during an MBS study and how these issues may be related to the patient’s symptoms as well as the oropharyngeal swallow.  Examples will be provided showing how important an esophageal sweep can be for providing current interdisciplinary care.  

Speaker: Jamie LeBoutillier, MS, CCC-SLP is currently the lead outpatient SLP at University Medical Center in New Orleans.  She specialized in the evaluation and treatment of dysphagia and dysphonia. This includes FEES, MBS studies, stroboscopy, fitting of a tracheal esophageal voice prothesis, complete decongestive therapy, and radiation associated dysphagia. She also treats patients in acute care daily in a Level 1 trauma center, comprehension stroke center, and a verified burn center. She is currently the secretary at LSHA and employed by LSUHSC to teach voice. She is passionate about teaching and providing current, evidence-based care.  She has given many lectures in her 16-year career to peers, physicians, graduate students, and other ancillary professions.  She also assisted with bringing national and international education courses to New Orleans. She received her undergraduate degree at LSU in Baton Rouge, then her graduate degree at Boston University before returning to her home in New Orleans. 

Non-Financial Disclosures: Speaker is a board member of LSHA as Secretary

Financial: Speaker has no financial disclosures

Learning Outcome(s):

• Discuss the rationale and benefits of an esophageal sweep during an MBS study  
• Be prepared to advocate for this with other interdisciplinary team members if needed. 
• Describe findings and make appropriate referrals following a complete MBS study.  
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of structural vs motility disorders of the esophagus.  

Learners will be required to complete a self-assessment at the end of this course. 

Course title: Avoiding the volleyball pass: Understanding muscle tension dysphagia and muscle tension dysphonia 

Course Description: Muscle tension dysphagia (MTDg) and muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) can both be caused by hyperfunctioning of the larynx. These conditions are characterized by excessive laryngeal muscle tension, leading to inefficient, effortful or uncomfortable swallowing and voice production. These functional disorders happen in the absence of structural or primary neurologic pathology. Patients often present with globus sensation, effortful swallowing, inconsistent dysphagia, hoarseness and vocal fatigue despite largely normal structural neurologic findings. They are both frequently underdiagnosed and mismanaged.  

This course will provide speech-language pathologists with an overview of the evaluation, assessment, clinical presentation, evidence-based informed management of muscle tension dysphagia and dysphonia.  

At the end of this course, clinicians will be equipped to recognize, assess and treat muscle tension dysphagia and muscle tension dysphonia. Speech-language pathologists will improve functional swallowing and voice outcomes in patients with hyperfunctional laryngeal patterns. 

Speaker: Brittany Klein Carlisle, MCD, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist with six years of clinical experience specializing in medical speech-language pathology. She currently practices at University Medical Center, where she provides services in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department and acute care settings. Brittany has contributed to professional education on the national and local level. She has lectured at the American Burn Association convention on the role of speech-language pathologist in the burn unit, highlighting interdisciplinary collaboration and airway, voice and swallowing management. She has also guest lectured at LSU Health Science Center Speech Language Pathology program on topics including fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), stroboscopy, and head and neck cancer treatment. Her clinical expertise includes head and neck cancer care, laryngectomy management, complex dysphagia management, and various voice disorders.  

Non-Financial Disclosures: Speaker has no non-financial disclosures

Financial: Speaker has no financial disclosures

Learning objectives 

• Define muscle tension dysphagia (MTDg) and muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) and its pathophysiology in the context of hyperfunctioning.  
  
• Perform comprehensive SLP evaluations for both muscle tension dysphagia and muscle tension dysphonia. 
• Demonstrate at least 3 therapeutic techniques targeting reduction of hyperfunctional patterns in both swallowing and voice. 

• Identify common clinic signs and patient reported symptoms associated with MTDg and MTD. 

 

Intermediate Level 0.30 ASHA CEUs 

ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.