Spinal cord injury affects far more than mobility, and understanding its widespread impact is essential for providing meaningful speech-language pathology services. In this comprehensive course, you’ll explore how spinal cord injury influences multiple body systems and how those changes affect breathing, voice, swallowing, communication, and cognition. You’ll learn to apply foundational SCI knowledge to real-world case studies, anticipate common clinical challenges, and develop treatment plans that reflect the complex needs of this patient population while working seamlessly within an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team.

Led by board-certified specialist Michelle Dehgan, this course goes beyond dysphagia alone to provide a holistic understanding of the medical, psychological, and functional changes that occur after spinal cord injury. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to create more meaningful, patient-centered goals, confidently interpret medical records to identify factors influencing recovery, and collaborate more effectively with physicians, therapists, nurses, and other rehabilitation professionals. Whether you’re working in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, or outpatient settings, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to provide more comprehensive, evidence-informed care for individuals with spinal cord injury.