NetCE 1 Hour Course #9924L • Effects of Aging on Communication
Author: Amber Heape, CScD, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP; www.netce.com
Date: 2026-09-15
Keywords: Webinars
Description: This live event takes place Thursday, October 1, 7 pm-8 pm EDT (4 pm-5 pm PDT). Communication plays a central role in the health, independence, and quality of life of aging adults. As people age, changes in hearing, voice, speech, language, and cognition may affect how they communicate and interact with others. This course reviews normal age-related changes in these areas, as well as strategies for identifying communication difficulties and providing appropriate support and treatment. Learners will also explore approaches for communicating effectively with older adults and counseling families
Publisher: NetCE
Rights: Copyright © 2026 NetCE, All rights reserved.

9924L • Effects of Aging on Communication

Table of Contents

9924L • Effects of Aging on Communication

How to Receive Credit
Course Overview
Audience
Accreditations & Approvals
Designations of Credit
Individual State Behavioral Health Approvals
Course Objective
Learning Objectives
Faculty
Faculty Disclosure
Division Planners
Division Planners Disclosure
Director of Development and Academic Affairs
Director Disclosure Statement
About the Sponsor
Disclosure Statement
Implicit Bias in Health Care

1. INTRODUCTION
2. WEBINAR
3. WORKBOOK
Works Cited

9924L • Effects of Aging on Communication

Amber Heape, CScD, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP

www.netce.com

Copyright © 2026 NetCE, All rights reserved.

This live event takes place Thursday, October 1, 7 pm-8 pm EDT (4 pm-5 pm PDT).

Communication plays a central role in the health, independence, and quality of life of aging adults. As people age, changes in hearing, voice, speech, language, and cognition may affect how they communicate and interact with others. This course reviews normal age-related changes in these areas, as well as strategies for identifying communication difficulties and providing appropriate support and treatment. Learners will also explore approaches for communicating effectively with older adults and counseling families and caregivers.

9924L • Effects of Aging on Communication

Education Category. Webinars

Release Date. 09/15/2026

Expiration Date. 10/15/2026

How to Receive Credit

To complete this course for continuing education credit please go to http://www.netce.com/course/3685 in your browser.

For assistance with receiving continuing education credit, please contact us at help@netce.com.

Course Overview

This live event takes place Thursday, October 1, 7 pm-8 pm EDT (4 pm-5 pm PDT).

Communication plays a central role in the health, independence, and quality of life of aging adults. As people age, changes in hearing, voice, speech, language, and cognition may affect how they communicate and interact with others. This course reviews normal age-related changes in these areas, as well as strategies for identifying communication difficulties and providing appropriate support and treatment. Learners will also explore approaches for communicating effectively with older adults and counseling families and caregivers.

Audience

This live webinar is intended for allied health professionals who care for aging adults.

Accreditations & Approvals

NetCE has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6361. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NetCE is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. As a Jointly Accredited Organization, NetCE is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. NetCE is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). NetCE complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, NetCE is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. NetCE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0021. This course is considered live online by the New York State Board of Mental Health Counseling. NetCE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0033. This course is considered live online, as defined by the New York State Board for Social Work. NetCE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0015. This course is considered live online by the New York State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. NetCE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0240. This course is considered live online by the New York State Board for Psychology.

Designations of Credit

NetCE designates this live event continuing education activity for 1 NBCC clock hour(s). NetCE designates this live event activity for 1 continuing education clock hours. Social workers participating in this intermediate to advanced course will receive 1 Clinical continuing education clock hours. NetCE is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEU(s) for this program. NetCE designates this live continuing education activity for 1 credit(s).

Individual State Behavioral Health Approvals

In addition to states that accept ASWB, NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education by the following state boards: Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners, Provider #0515; Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, CE Broker Provider #50-2405; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Social Workers, License #159.001094; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Licensed Professional and Clinical Counselors, License #197.000185; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Marriage and Family Therapists, License #168.000190;

Course Objective

The purpose of this course is to provide learners with effective strategies for assessment and treatment and counseling families.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Identify normal changes in each component of speech related to aging.

2. List at least three factors of aging on language.

3. Determine at least three evidence-based treatment approaches to address age-related language deficits and improve participation in daily and occupational tasks.

Faculty

Amber Heape, CScD, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP, is an assistant professor and director of the Health Professions Education Track in the SLPD program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Heape serves on multiple volunteer committees at the state and national levels. She is a fellow of the National Academies of Practice, is a certified dementia practitioner, and teaches interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary courses related to healthcare in the geriatric population. She is also coordinator for ASHA SIG 15 (Gerontology). Dr. Heape has a passion for clinical education and mentoring future leaders.

Faculty Disclosure

Contributing faculty, Amber Heape, CScD, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Division Planners

Kimberly Byrd, EdD, PMSW

Scott Deatherage, PhD

Candace Pierce, DNP, RN, CNE, COI

Jessica Restivo, MS, OTR/L, NTMTC

Verlyn Evans, EdD, CCC/SLP

Division Planners Disclosure

The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Director of Development and Academic Affairs

Sarah Campbell

Director Disclosure Statement

The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

About the Sponsor

The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.

Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.

Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.

Implicit Bias in Health Care

The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.

Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.

1. INTRODUCTION

Effective communication is essential to providing safe, person-centered care for aging adults. Understanding the effects of aging on voice, hearing, speech, language, and cognition enables allied health professionals to recognize potential concerns and respond appropriately. By applying effective assessment and treatment strategies and supporting families and caregivers, healthcare professionals can help older adults maintain communication abilities, participation, and quality of life.

2. WEBINAR

To see this media go to http://www.NetCE.com/activities/ using a browser that supports Adobe Flash.

3. WORKBOOK

The workbook discussed in this webinar is available here.

Works Cited

1. Azari S, Aghaz A, Maarefvand M, Ghelichi L, Pashazadeh F, Shavaki YA. The prevalence of voice disorders and the related factors in university professors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Voice. 2022;38(5):1103-1114.

2. Barbosa IK, Behlau M, Lima-Silva MF, Almeida LN, Farias H, Almeida AA. Voice symptoms, perceived voice control, and common mental disorders in elementary school teachers. J Voice. 2021;35(1):e151-e158.

3. Bowl MR, Dawson SJ. Age-related hearing loss. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2019;9(8):a033217.

4. Burke DM, Shafto MA. Aging and language production. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2004;13(1):21-24.

5. Desjardins M, Halstead L, Simpson A, Flume P, Bonilha HS. The impact of respiratory function on voice in patients with presbyphonia. J Voice. 2022;36(2):256-271.

6. Karlsson F, Hartelius L. On the primary influences of age on articulation and phonation in maximum performance tasks. Languages. 2021;6(4):174.

7. Lin FC, Chien HY, Chen SH, Kao YC, Cheng PW, Wang CT. Voice therapy for benign voice disorders in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial comparing telepractice and conventional face-to-face therapy. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2020;63(7):2132-2140.

8. National Institute on Aging. Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults. Available at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-and-hearing-loss/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults.

9. Oliveira P, Ribeiro VV, Constantini AC, Cavalcante MEOB, dos Santos Sousa M, da Silva K. Prevalence of work-related voice disorders in voice professionals: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Voice. 2022;39(1):84-104.

10. Paplou V, Schubert NMA, Pyott SJ. Age-related changes in the cochlea and vestibule: shared patterns and processes. Front Neurosci. 2021;15:680856.

11. Rishiq D, Harkrider A, Springer C, Hedrick M. Effects of aging on the subcortical encoding of stop consonants. Am J Audiol. 2020;29(3):391-403.

12. Rojas S, Kefalianos E, Vogel A. How does our voice change as we age? A systematic review and meta-analysis of acoustic and perceptual voice data from healthy adults over 50 years of age. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2020;63(2):533-551.

13. Roy N, Stemple J, Merrill RM, Thomas L. Epidemiology of voice disorders in the elderly: preliminary findings. Laryngoscope. 2007;117(4):628-633.

14. Santos AO, Godoy J, Silverio K, Brasolotto A. Vocal changes of men and women from different age decades: an analysis from 30 years of age. J Voice. 2023;37(6):840-850.

15. Sapienza CM, Hoffman-Ruddy B. Voice Disorders. 4th ed. Plural Publishing; 2021.

16. Toner M, Shadden B, Gluth M. Aging and Communication. 2nd ed. ProEd; 2011.

17. Torbes TMM, da Silva KZ, Gadenz CD, Cassol M. Adherence of patients with dysphonia to voice therapy: systematic review. J Voice. 2020;34(5):808.e815-808.e823.

18. Tsai LYJ, Chan RW, Shen C, et al. A 4-week straw phonation in water exercise program for aging-related vocal fold atrophy. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2023;66(8):2581-2599.