Course Description
This course provides an overview of effective communication techniques for imaging patients with neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting the importance of communication support, as well as the role of medical imaging in diagnosis and treatment. Imaging patients with neurodegenerative diseases can be challenging due to communication impairments, and when imaging departments address these challenges, it allows radiologic technologists (RTs) and other members of the patient's healthcare team to provide high-quality care to their patients. Neurodegenerative diseases gradually damage and destroy parts of the central nervous system, particularly the brain, and include conditions like dementia, demyelinating diseases, Parkinsonism-type diseases, motor neuron diseases, and prion diseases, all of which will be described in this course. Symptoms of these conditions and diseases vary widely among patients due to unique brain structures and differing causes, but the most common symptoms include confusion, memory loss, slow movements, muscle weakness, and behavioral changes, which will also be discussed in this course. Augmentative and alternative communication strategies that are designed to help facilitate communication between the patient, RTs, the patient's caregiver(s), and other healthcare providers and clinicians that are part of the patient's care team will also be detailed.

Learning Objectives
After reviewing the content, the participant should be able to:

• SUMMARIZE the aspects and processes of the nervous system and associated neurodegenerative disorders that cause communication impairment.
• IDENTIFY the imaging modalities most often used for evaluating and assessing patients diagnosed with the common neurodegenerative disorders.
• OUTLINE the types of communication support or alternative communication methods for patients with neurodegenerative disorders who require imaging studies.
• IDENTIFY multiple communication techniques that are effective for patients who are speech, motor, language, and cognitively impaired.
• SUMMARIZE how augmentative and alternative communications methods apply to patients with neurodegenerative disorders based on the most common symptoms.

Category: Professional Development/Patient Care Quality

In order to receive CE credit, you must first complete the activity content. When completed, go to the "Take CE Test!" link to access the post-test.

Submit the completed answers to determine if you have passed the post-test assessment. You must answer 18 out of 24 questions correctly to receive the CE credit. You will have no more than 3 attempts to successfully complete the post-test.

Participants successfully completing the activity content and passing the post-test will receive 2.75 ARRT Category A credits.

Approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for ARRT Category A credit.

Approved by the state of Florida for ARRT Category A credit (for Personal Development credits). 

Texas diirect credit.

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. ARRT does not allow CE activities such as Internet courses, home study programs, or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same biennium.

Category	Content Area	Credits
Computed Tomography	Procedures	0.5
Magnetic Resonance	Patient Care	2.25
Magnetic Resonance	Procedures	0.5
Nuclear Medicine	Patient Care	2.25
Nuclear Medicine	Procedures	0.5
Radiation Therapy	Patient Care	2.25
Radiography	Patient Care	2.25
Radiologist Assistant	Patient Care	2.25
Radiologist Assistant	Procedures	0.5
Sonography	Patient Care	2.25
Vascular Sonography	Patient Care	2.25

Category	Subcategory	Credits
Computed Tomography	Head, Spine and Musculoskeletal	0.5
Magnetic Resonance	Neurological	0.5
Magnetic Resonance	Patient Interactions and Management	2.25
Nuclear Medicine	Other Imaging Procedures	0.5
Nuclear Medicine	Patient Interactions and Management	2.25
Radiation Therapy	Patient Interactions and Management	2.25
Radiography	Patient Interactions and Management	2.25
Radiologist Assistant	Neurological, Vascular, and Lymphatic Sections	0.5
Radiologist Assistant	Patient Management	2.25
Sonography	Patient Interactions and Management	2.25
Vascular Sonography	Patient Interactions and Management	2.25

Category	Credits
Digital	0
Fluoroscopy	0
Mammography	0