The term dysphagia covers not only swallowing problems but also control of all the complex movements needed for eating and drinking. Swallowing difficulties can be a feature of a large number of neurological conditions as well as many others, and can affect both children and adults.
Some of the consequences of un-managed dysphagia include:
• Aspiration pneumonia (a chest infection caused by food and fluid going onto the lungs rather than into the stomach)
• Choking
• Weight loss and/or dehydration because of poor nutrition/fluid intake
• Reduced quality of life
• Family anxiety and distress
Some of the following may occur:
• Signs of distress at meal times and food refusal.
• Coughing and/or choking on food or fluid before, during, or after swallowing.
• Change in facial expression, or eyes watering whilst eating or drinking.
• Change in respiratory pattern e.g. breathlessness, rapid breathing rate.
• Inability to eat all types of food, or slow eating and swallowing.
• Holding food in the mouth and making no attempts to swallow.
• Loss of food from the mouth.
• Feeling of food 'sticking in the throat'.
• Pain on swallowing.
• Inability to manage saliva (drooling, dribbling or coughing on it).
• Inability to manage usual medication such as pills.
• Wet, 'gurgly' voice quality.
Speech and language therapists are often involved with a multi-disciplinary team working with people with swallowing problems including doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians.
The following may form part of the therapy input for people with swallowing problems:
• Exercises for the lips, tongue, etc.
• Trials with different food and fluid consistencies.
• Advice on compensatory strategies (e.g. seating position or posture, modifying texture, changing feeding technique).
• Sensory enhancement/stimulation.
• Advice on any onward referral to another department for further investigation (e.g. x-ray).
• Advice regarding whether feeding by mouth is safe or not.
• Re-assessment and review of swallowing function.
• Advice to parents or carers.
The Specialist Speech Therapy practice offers assessment, advice and treatment of swallowing difficulties as a result of acquired neurological conditions such as brain injury, stroke, progressive neurological disease. Contact us today to arrange an appointment, without a waiting list.
Some of the consequences of un-managed dysphagia include:
• Aspiration pneumonia (a chest infection caused by food and fluid going onto the lungs rather than into the stomach)
• Choking
• Weight loss and/or dehydration because of poor nutrition/fluid intake
• Reduced quality of life
• Family anxiety and distress
Some of the following may occur:
• Signs of distress at meal times and food refusal.
• Coughing and/or choking on food or fluid before, during, or after swallowing.
• Change in facial expression, or eyes watering whilst eating or drinking.
• Change in respiratory pattern e.g. breathlessness, rapid breathing rate.
• Inability to eat all types of food, or slow eating and swallowing.
• Holding food in the mouth and making no attempts to swallow.
• Loss of food from the mouth.
• Feeling of food 'sticking in the throat'.
• Pain on swallowing.
• Inability to manage saliva (drooling, dribbling or coughing on it).
• Inability to manage usual medication such as pills.
• Wet, 'gurgly' voice quality.
Speech and language therapists are often involved with a multi-disciplinary team working with people with swallowing problems including doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians.
The following may form part of the therapy input for people with swallowing problems:
• Exercises for the lips, tongue, etc.
• Trials with different food and fluid consistencies.
• Advice on compensatory strategies (e.g. seating position or posture, modifying texture, changing feeding technique).
• Sensory enhancement/stimulation.
• Advice on any onward referral to another department for further investigation (e.g. x-ray).
• Advice regarding whether feeding by mouth is safe or not.
• Re-assessment and review of swallowing function.
• Advice to parents or carers.
The Specialist Speech Therapy practice offers assessment, advice and treatment of swallowing difficulties as a result of acquired neurological conditions such as brain injury, stroke, progressive neurological disease. Contact us today to arrange an appointment, without a waiting list.