This material explains the difference between “aspiration” and “silent aspiration.” New research with healthy swallows shows occasional aspiration and silent aspiration can be tolerated by the body in small amounts. This information will help with the differential diagnosis of dysphagia and presbyphagia and prevent over-diagnosis of dysphagia.
Does aspiration = pneumonia? Maybe. This handout is designed to help SLPs navigate this complex conversation with patients who are at risk of dysphagia. The handout breaks down the evidence base of three variables and how they stack up to different risks. This provides a clear visual as to how a healthy immune system and quality, consistent oral care may be a strong avenue to prevent aspiration pneumonia, even in the presence of aspiration risk.
The International Dysphagia Diet Initiative (IDDSI) level four encompasses both drink and food which are “extremely thick” and “pureed.” This material provides information for patients and their caregivers on this consistency’s characteristics, the reasoning for recommendation/need for this consistency, ways to test this consistency at home, and helpful recommendations and examples.
A person may need respiratory support from a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for multiple reasons. However, the medical team will need to collaborate with the speech-language pathologist to determine if swallowing will be safe for this non-invasive oxygen treatment. The SLP will consider many questions because HFNC can negatively change swallowing safety and increase aspiration risk. This handout will explain the purpose of HFNC and provide clinical questions to be considered by the medical team.
This handout describes the various causes of xerostomia and provides a list of treatment options, including using natural enzymes, adjusting medications, oral rinses and moisturizing products, use of humidifiers, and avoiding dehydrating foods/liquids.
This handout sets the record straight on the complexities of swallow precautions and the need for all precautions and strategies to be individualized on a patient-by-patient basis.
This handout is designed for patients and families facing the complex and personal decision of either signing a variance form or following specific safe swallow precautions prescribed in a healthcare setting. All patients and families deserve to know 1) their risk of dysphagia; 2) strategies to reduce their risk of dysphagia; and 3) their rights regarding their choice to use those strategies or not within a healthcare setting. This handout describes these three important factors.