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Swallowing difficulty

Swallowing difficulty. Concerns and suggestions for helping persons with PSP, CBD, PD and MSA Prepared by Barbara C. Sonies, PhD, CCC-SLP Board Registered Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. Why be concerned with swallowing difficulty?.

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Swallowing difficulty

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  1. Swallowing difficulty Concerns and suggestions for helping persons with PSP, CBD, PD and MSA Prepared by Barbara C. Sonies, PhD, CCC-SLP Board Registered Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders

  2. Why be concerned with swallowing difficulty? • Food going down the wrong way can enter the lungs and cause aspiration which can lead to a serious infection or even death. • Eating is a primary social interaction and if one can not swallow, it can be embarrassing and lead to isolation and depression.

  3. What are common problems ? • Drooling • Food collecting in the mouth and not swallowed • Coughing and choking when eating • Changes in your voice • HOARSENESS or a GURGLING SOUND after meals • Food goes down the wrong way • Feeling of discomfort in the chest or food sticking • Reflux ( food comes back up) or heartburn • Pain when swallowing • Problems swallowing pills • Food coming up your nose • Eating takes a long time

  4. Other factors that may cause swallowing difficulty • Poor oral hygiene • Rotten teeth • Sores in the mouth • Cant brush your teeth well due to poor hand control or fatigue • Being unaware that food or liquids are entering the airway-failure to cough • Cant clear your mouth or throat of mucous

  5. How is swallowing diagnosed • A Speech-Language Pathologist is consulted • Swallowing studies need to be completed • Modified barium swallow (MBS) study to examine the entire swallow from the mouth to the throat • Swallow tiny amounts of various food textures and liquids while sitting or standing • Looks for aspiration, muscle weakness or incoordination of the structures needed to swallow • Fiberoptic swallow study (FEES) examines the throat and looks for aspiration

  6. The swallow study • Helps to diagnose the problem specifically • Allows the speech-language pathologist to try therapeutic maneuvers to reduce or eliminate swallowing problems • Allows you to find out which types of foods are a problem and which are able to be swallowed more easily • Helps in planning treatment • Allows the clinician to compare progress

  7. Some strategies that may help reduce swallowing difficulty • Each person’s problems are often different so these are meant only as examples • Change in posture • Change in head position • Make sure food is visible on the table and plate • Use of special seating and equipment • Changing diet textures-use of food thickeners • Adding spices • Pureed foods • Good oral hygiene

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