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Swallowing and Speech in Ataxia: a Team Approach

Laura Gregory, MA CCC-SLP Rehab Without Walls - San Antonio, TX. Swallowing and Speech in Ataxia: a Team Approach. The information provided by speakers in any presentation made as part of the 2012 NAF Annual Membership Meeting is for informational use only.

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Swallowing and Speech in Ataxia: a Team Approach

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  1. Laura Gregory, MA CCC-SLP Rehab Without Walls - San Antonio, TX Swallowing and Speech in Ataxia: a Team Approach

  2. The information provided by speakers in any presentation made as part of the 2012 NAF Annual Membership Meeting is for informational use only. • NAF encourages all attendees to consult with their primary care provider, neurologist, or other health care provider about any advice, exercise, therapies, medication, treatment, nutritional supplement, or regimen that may have been mentioned as part of any presentation. • Products or services mentioned during these presentations does not imply endorsement by NAF. Disclaimer

  3. Laura Gregory, MA CCC-SLP • The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: • No relationships to disclose or list Presenter Disclosures

  4. Overview of the swallowing process • Overview of speech • The team approach • Specific treatments and compensatory strategies Outline of presentation

  5. Dysphagia – the clinical term for a disorder of swallowing • Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) aka speech therapist – diagnoses and treats dysphagia • Dysphagia is typically diagnosed through a videofluoroscopic or videoendoscopic swallow examination. Swallowing Terminology

  6. Video of a normal swallow

  7. Decreased coordination and oral control • Delayed swallow initiation • Decreased pressure gradient to propel the bolus • Impaired timing of reflexes for airway protection • Pure cerebellar ataxia does not cause decreased strength or sensation Effects of ataxia on the swallow

  8. Coughing, especially with liquids and mixed or crumbly textures • Penetration: food/liquid enters the airway but does not pass below the larynx • Aspiration: food/liquid enters the airway and passes to the lungs – can lead to pneumonia • Food feeling stuck in throat • Liquids going into nasal cavity What are the signs and symptoms?

  9. Articulation of speech sounds is a complex process of movements of oral structures coordinated with respiration and voicing. Ataxia affects speech in the areas of • Timing • Coordination Effects of ataxia on speech

  10. Slurring of sounds • “Scanning speech” with equal emphasis on each syllable • Difficulty modulating volume of voice • Difficulty controlling force or direction of oral movements (overshoot, undershoot) • Inadequate or poorly coordinated breath support • These are referred to as Ataxic Dysarthria Speech difficulties include:

  11. Difficulty communicating with family and friends • Fatigue Result

  12. So what can I do?

  13. Educate yourself and others • Be aware of early signs of difficulty with swallowing and speech • Seek help before swallowing and speech difficulties become a major issue • Recruit a support network

  14. It takes a team

  15. YOU! • Caregivers/family • Friends • Physicians • Speech pathologist • Occupational therapist • Physical therapist • Social worker/therapist • Dietitian Who are the players?

  16. Because You are not just a mouth VS

  17. YOU! You know yourself best, so you are in the best position to make decisions regarding your healthcare in partnership with the team. The team approach won’t work without YOUR motivation and participation Roles of the players

  18. Eating is a social activity! Caregivers, Family, and Friends

  19. Communication goes two ways.

  20. Discusses signs and symptoms with you • Makes appropriate referrals • Communicates with the team along the way Physician

  21. Speech Pathologist • Evaluation and treatment of the oral/pharyngeal and respiratory components of swallowing • Physical Therapist • Evaluation and treatment of postural and head control as they relate to speech and swallowing. Can also address respiration. • Occupational Therapist • Similar to physical therapist plus adaptive equipment Therapists

  22. Social Worker/Therapist • Emotional support for adjustment to disability. Assistance in finding compensatory strategies to decrease frustration when communicating with friends and family. • Dietitian • If changes to the diet are needed for swallowing safety, a dietitian can assist in maintaining adequate nutrition Other potential team members

  23. Universal • Sit upright at 90 degrees with good postural support • Stay upright for 30 minutes after meals • Take small bites and sips • Reduce distractions, including talking • Eat several small meals if fatigue is a factor • Avoid problematic consistencies Swallowing: Compensatory strategies

  24. An SLP may recommend other strategies based on individual needs. • Chin tuck • Swallowing maneuvers designed to protect the airway • Diet modifications • Soft or pureed food • Solids chopped into smaller pieces • Thickened liquids Swallowing: compensatory strategies

  25. Adaptive equipment • Provale cup: delivers 1 tsp per sip • Bionix safe straw: 1 tsp

  26. Adaptive Equipment • Less measured but less expensive ways to control the flow of liquid : • Squeeze the straw • Use a cup with a lid

  27. Adaptive Equipment • Scooper bowl • Weighted utensils • Dycem

  28. Oral-motor exercises may be of some benefit to improve timing, coordination, and awareness. • Neuro-muscular electrical stimulation (NMES), also referred to as Vitalstim, is not effective for ataxia alone but may be beneficial when there is accompanying weakness. Swallowing: Potential treatments

  29. Naso-gastric tube- can be used for a short period of time when eating by mouth is not safe. • Gastric tube or less commonly a jejunal tube can be surgically placed for long term supplemental or alternate nutrition. • Choosing an alternate method of nutrition is a difficult decision that should involve the entire team and support network. Alternate method of nutrition

  30. Speak face to face without distractions • Educate unfamiliar listeners • Break sentences into shorter phrases when you are not understood • Introduce the topic using a single word • Take your time Speech: compensatory strategies

  31. Overarticulation • Pacing/rhythmic training • Speech agility exercises • Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) – Would be beneficial for Ataxia when a patient has difficulty speaking at a consistent volume or coordinating respiration with speech. Evidence base for multisystem atrophy. Speech: potential treatments

  32. Yoga • Music therapy additional activities

  33. Low tech: Alphabet board, picture board, etc. • Voice output device (or ipad) • Picture to speech • Text to speech • Access • Hand • Switch • Switch/scanning • Eye gaze Augmentative/alternative communication

  34. Funding in Texas • Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP) http://stap.puc.state.tx.us • Review of ipad apps • http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/article/iphoneipad-apps-for-aac Augmentative/Alternative Communication

  35. Go team!!!

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