Archives

Aspiration Risk Reduction Protocol

April 30, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This Aspiration Risk Reduction Protocol helps ensure consistent, evidence-based strategies for reducing aspiration risk in hospitalized adults. Designed for SLPs and interdisciplinary teams, this bedside-friendly tool improves collaboration by guiding nurses through initial screening and providing clear, actionable steps for ongoing aspiration management.
This content is only available to members.

Swallow Exercises

April 30, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This handout provides clear, patient-friendly explanations of common swallowing exercises, linking each one to the symptoms patients may experience. Perfect for therapists to use in sessions or send home with patients, it helps bridge the gap between clinical recommendations and real-life swallowing challenges.
This content is only available to members.

What to Expect During End of Life Care: A Guide for Families

March 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This guide helps families understand the natural process of the body shutting down during end-of-life care, with a focus on the emotional challenges surrounding nutrition and hydration. It provides evidence-based explanations and practical tips to help families feel reassured, offering therapists a warm and accessible resource to share during these profound moments.
This content is only available to members.

Feeding Tubes and Aspiration Risk

March 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
Feeding tubes are often used to address nutritional needs, but they do not eliminate aspiration risk. This evidence-based resource performs double-duty, equipping therapists to educate RNs, MDs, dietitians, and other team members while also helping patients and families understand the complexities of aspiration pneumonia and the importance of identifying its root cause through instrumental swallow studies.
This content is only available to members.

Your Body, Your Choice: Understanding Thickened Liquids and Dysphagia

March 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This patient-centered resource empowers individuals with dysphagia to make informed decisions about their care, emphasizing autonomy and quality of life over outdated norms. It provides clear, research-backed information about thickened liquids, hydration, and the importance of honoring patient preferences, making it a perfect tool to spark meaningful, collaborative discussions in therapy.
This content is only available to members.

Comprendiendo la neumonía por aspiración y la disfagia

February 28, 2025 by Megan Berg.
Este recurso explica de manera sencilla y accesible la relación entre la salud bucal, la disfagia y la neumonía por aspiración, empoderando a los pacientes y sus familias para que tomen decisiones informadas sobre su atención. Incluye consejos prácticos, consideraciones especiales y estrategias concretas para ayudar a los terapeutas en la educación y orientación de sus clientes.
This content is only available to members.

Embracing Uncertainty: A Realistic Approach to Dysphagia Exercises

February 28, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This resource explores the complexities and limitations of dysphagia management, highlighting key swallowing exercises like the Shaker, Mendelsohn, Masako, and CTAR while acknowledging the lack of definitive evidence supporting their efficacy. Designed for therapists, it encourages a patient-centered, collaborative approach that prioritizes real-world outcomes, transparent education, and individualized care amidst the gray areas of current dysphagia research.
This content is only available to members.

Continuing Your Dysphagia Plan of Care at Home

February 28, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
Support continuity of care with this patient-friendly dysphagia resource, designed to provide clear, actionable documentation for patients and families as they transition home. This tool helps reinforce strategies and dietary modifications, ensuring the dysphagia plan of care is understood and implemented beyond the hospital setting.
This content is only available to members.

Swallowing in the Supine Position: A Clinical Decision-Making Guide

February 28, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This resource equips SLPs with practical tools to navigate the complexities of swallowing in the supine position, balancing patient safety, quality of life, and individualized care goals. With case-specific insights and adaptable strategies, it supports collaborative decision-making to address both medically necessary and therapeutically beneficial supine swallowing scenarios.
This content is only available to members.

Understanding Aspiration Pneumonia and Dysphagia

January 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This resource explains the connection between oral health, dysphagia, and aspiration pneumonia in a simple, accessible way, empowering patients and families to make informed choices about their care. It includes practical tips, special considerations, and actionable strategies to support therapists in educating and guiding their clients.
This content is only available to members.