Educational Handouts

Feeding and Alzheimer’s Disease

Feeding and Alzheimer’s Disease   Intervention and useful strategies with AD during meals  (Brush, J., Slominiski T., Boczko F., 2006) Visual cues and written reminders Cups and handles that are easy to grasp.  Try the Provale cup –  800-757-7579 Serve larger portions at breakfast to maintain weight Seat patients according to compatibilities rather than disabilities […]

Treatment Strategies: Why, How, What?

Strategy Why? How to do What it does Head Back Poor oral control Must have normal pharyngeal phase Tilt head back during swallow Uses gravity, duration of UES relaxation decreases with increased head extension Chin Tuck Premature loss Reduced airway closure Touching chin to chest before & during swallow widens valleculae narrows airway Pushes tongue […]

Speech Pathologist Reference Sheet

Problem Probable Cause Phase Anterior loss of food or liquids Decreased lip, jaw strength Oral Can not suck through straw Decreased lip, jaw strength Decreased lip sensation Oral Pocketing Decreased tongue strength and sensation Oral Reduced mastication Decreased tongue strength Oral Oral hold Decreased tongue strength & sensation Oral Loses food prematurely over back of […]

TRACHEOTOMY

Tracheotomy – Between 43-80% of the patients with tracheotomy tubes will manifest signs of aspiration or aspiration pneumonia. Dysphagia is produced by physiological changes associated with opening the trachea to atmospheric pressure, not merely the presence of the tube in the neck ( Murray, T, Carrau, R, 2006) Physiciologic changes following a Tracheotomy Loss or […]

Patient and Family Education Sheet on MBSS

What is an MBSS and why does it need to be done? Dysphagia is the medical term describing a condition of swallowing difficulty that occurs from an underlying condition. Fifteen million people in the United States suffer from dysphagia (J. Logemann, 1991), and 40-60% of those are residents of a long-term care facility. A Modified […]

Patient and Family Education Sheet on NPO and Tube Feeding

Aspiration Aspiration occurs when material such as gastric contents, saliva, food, nasopharyngeal secretions are inhaled into the airway or upper respiratory tract. In a healthy population, micro aspiration is common and pulmonary secretions seldom occur. In the unhealthy population risk for pneumonia is higher due to levels of consciousness, altered airway defenses, and depressed immune […]

Speech Pathologist Reference Sheet on Treatment of Dysphagia

Therapy Techniques for some of the swallow dysfunctions seen on the MBSS Improve Oral Sensory Awareness – Premature spillage can be a direct result of reduced oral sensation Increase downward pressure of the spoon against the tongue when presenting food in the mouth Presenting sour bolus Presenting cold bolus Presenting bolus requiring chewing Presenting a […]

Internet Sites and Resources for SLP’s

www.asha.org – internet site for the national organization   www.txsha.org – Texas Speech, Hearing, and Language Association which includes state wide CEU schedule, legislature information, newsletter and forum.   www.SLPjob.com – SLP JOB is a website dedicated for Speech Language Pathology – Speech Therapy Jobs, Audiologist, & Hearing (Sign/Language Translator Jobs). Speech Therapist Message Board, […]

Holiday Dysphagia Diet

Dysphagia Holiday Foods Popular Items for the Holidays – Make sure they fit into your Dysphagia diet  Turkey Slices – Solid Legs – Solid Fried – Solid Ham Sliced – Solid Chopped – Msoft Ham Salad – Msoft Cranberry sauce With whole or chopped berries – Msoft Without whole berries – Puree Stuffing With nuts […]