Common Conditions or Diagnosis for Dysphagia Management:
- Signs of Choking When Eating Drooling/Poor Oral Motor Control
- Difficulty Chewing Foods Holding/Pocketing Food in Oral Cavity
- Recent Intubation History of or Recurring Pneumonia
- Multiple Swallows Frequent Coughing Immediately After Meal
- Throat Clearing and Coughing Coughing Before, During, or After Swallowing
- Traumatic Brain Injury Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
- Neurological and Degenerative Diseases ie: Stroke, TIA’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, Dementia/Alzheimer’s.
Dysphagia is a medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing. Sufferers are sometimes unaware of their dysphagia. Sufferers are sometimes unaware of their dysphagia. Some of the signs and symptoms include difficulty controlling food in the mouth, inability to control food or saliva in the mouth, difficulty initiating a swallow, coughing, choking, frequent pneumonia, unexplained weight loss, gurgly or wet voice after swallowing, nasal regurgitation and difficulty swallowing food.¹ Currently, there are several medical modalities which can be used to benefit a patient who has been diagnosed with dysphagia.²
Our Interdisciplinary Approach
Skilled Nursing
- History and Physical Medication Review and Teaching
- Nutritional Assessment Vital Sign and Weight Monitoring
- PEG Tube/ Tracheostomy Care
Speech Therapy
- Complete Speech Therapy Evaluation Modified Barium Swallow Study
- Oral/Pharyngeal/Hylolaryngal Exercise Program Vital Stim Therapy
- Nutrition and Hydration Education and Assessment Preparation, and Thickening Liquids
- Diet and Liquid Consistency Assessment Education Regarding Food Consistency
- Bedside and Oral Motor Examination and Screening Compensatory Strategy Techniques
Physical Therapy
- Complete Therapy Evaluation Strength and ROM Conditioning Exercises
- Home Safety Education Trunk and Neck Control Activities
Occupational Therapy
- Complete Therapy Assessment Feeding Positioning Assessment and Retraining
- Hand/Arm to Mouth Assessment (Self-Feeding) Feeding Equipment Assessment and Training
Home Health Aide
- Grooming and Bathing Assistance Light Housekeeping Pertaining to Patient Care Area
¹ 2011, Dysphagia, Wikipedia
² 2011, Dysphagia, Medscape