Archives

Using the BOLUS Framework in Collaborative Dysphagia Care

May 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This resource provides a structured approach to applying the BOLUS framework in dysphagia management, helping clinicians assess aspiration-related risks while keeping patient goals at the center of care. Designed for interdisciplinary collaboration, it includes a practical risk assessment checklist and guidance on engaging patients, families, and healthcare teams in shared decision-making.
This content is only available to members.

Reflux, Swallowing, and Long-Term PPI Use

May 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This handout helps patients understand the connection between reflux, swallowing, and long-term PPI use while offering practical, evidence-informed strategies for managing symptoms. Designed for therapists to share in clinical settings, it provides a balanced discussion of risks, alternatives, and lifestyle modifications to empower informed decision-making.
This content is only available to members.

Guide for Troubleshooting One-Way Speaking Valves

May 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This guide offers practical troubleshooting tips for SLPs working with patients using one-way speaking valves, addressing common challenges to improve airway function, phonation, and communication. With a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and individualized care, it provides clear, actionable strategies to enhance patient outcomes and tolerance of speaking valves.
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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.