Archives

The Supraglottic Swallow

January 10, 2022 by Megan Berg.
The supraglottic swallow maneuver requires a person to voluntarily close his/her vocal folds to add an extra layer of protection from aspiration. This material provides information regarding who should use this maneuver, the rationale, prerequisites, and instructions to complete this maneuver.
This content is only available to members.

The Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS)

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
The Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS) is a scale studied and created at Hartford Hospital to systematically improve functional rating severity of dysphagia following an objective swallowing evaluation. This resource provides information regarding the scale and how to determine which level accurately describes a person’s swallowing function.
This content is only available to members.

The Brain and Swallowing

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Swallowing is a complex automatic process we often take for granted until this daily activity becomes difficult. This material provides some insight into how the brain stem and brain work simultaneously to make swallowing happen safely.
This content is only available to members.

Temporomandibular Dysfunction and What to Expect

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be a source of jaw pain and stiffness. This handout is useful for clinicians who frequently treat TMJ disorders and for people who suffer from them. It includes causes of TMJ pain, what to expect, and what to do about TMJ pain.
This content is only available to members.

Tabletop Dysphagia Cue Cards

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
These handy dysphagia cue cards are designed to be discretely placed at dining tables to remind patients of dysphagia precautions. The cue cards feature a graphic of swallow anatomy/physiology and have blank spaces for SLPs to include specific personalized swallow strategies.
This content is only available to members.

Swallow Therapy for Anterior Spillage

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Anterior spillage can be an embarrassing reality for people experiencing reduced labial seal. This handout describes the anatomy and physiology of the orbicularis oris and outlines exercises and strategies to address this impairment.
This content is only available to members.

Swallow Exercises Tracking Sheet

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Swallow exercise tracking sheet. Write the name of the exercise + instructions. Patients can use squares to cross off exercise repetitions.
This content is only available to members.

Swallow Initiation

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Just how exactly is the swallow triggered? This handout describes the oral and pharyngeal sequences involved in a successful swallow. Also discusses swallow delay as well as how speech therapy can improve swallow initiation and reduce the risk of dysphagia and associated aspiration.
This content is only available to members.

Swallow Strategies Decision Tree

January 9, 2022 by Megan Berg.
This guide augments clinical decision making with a pathway for which swallow strategies to choose based on clinical observation. While this is not a black and white answer key to the many unique cases of dysphagia, it is a starting point to consider when working through each case.
This content is only available to members.