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Reduced Sensation and its Effects on Safe Swallowing. Nicole Martin Wayne State University 2012. Swallowing. Begins in utero . Involves a tightly coupled interdependence among ongoing sensory and motor events. Three phases: the oral phase, pharyngeal phase and esophageal phase
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Reduced Sensation and its Effects on Safe Swallowing Nicole Martin Wayne State University 2012
Swallowing • Begins in utero. • Involves a tightly coupled interdependence among ongoing sensory and motor events. • Three phases: the oral phase, pharyngeal phase and esophageal phase • Completion of a normal swallow involves receiving constant and always changing information from contact receptors for touch, pressure, taste and smell.
Reduced Sensation • Puts the patient at risk. • Can affect pediatric and adult populations. • Several possible causes. • Patient’s safety and nutrition are both at risk.
Children • Independent by three years old. • Possible causes of reduced sensation: prematurity, cardiac/respiratory conditions leading to need for ventilator, neurological, genetic and anatomic or structural etiologies, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Adults • People are living longer. • Aging is the primary cause of decreased sensation. • Other causes: CVA, TBI
What Can Happen? • Choking • Aspiration • Dehydration • Malnutrition • Pneumonia • Reduced quality of life