Archives

Saliva Anatomy and Function

March 1, 2023 by Ashley Zhinin.
Saliva is necessary for supporting swallowing, digestion, and teeth protection. Three salivary glands produce one to two liters of the body’s daily saliva. Video on how to use this resource: Nascimento, D., Carmona, J., Mestre, T., Ferreira, J. J., & Guimarães, I. (2021). Drooling rating scales in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review. Parkinsonism & Related […]
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IDDSI Level 6 (Soft and Bite-Sized)

January 1, 2023 by Ashley Zhinin.
The International Dysphagia Diet Initiative (IDDSI) level six is for modified solids called “Soft and Bite-Sized.” 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 for preparation.
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Determining the Risk of Aspiration

December 1, 2022 by Ashley Zhinin.
For healthy people, the protective system within the lungs can stay healthy even with trace amounts of aspiration. For people with dysphagia, there are many factors to consider when determining their risk for aspiration. This resource explores these factors.
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Sjogren’s Syndrome and Dysphagia

October 1, 2022 by Ashley Zhinin.
Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that causes dry mouth, which can lead to dysphagia with reduced saliva production. This handout explains more about this disorder and provides some swallowing strategies to consider.
This content is only available to members.

Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) Scale

October 1, 2022 by Ashley Zhinin.
The Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) Scale was created to generate a measure of pharyngeal dysphagia as a toxicity endpoint. This material explains its background and how to determine safety and efficiency grades to obtain a global rating of pharyngeal swallowing function.
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Normal Swallowing Variations

September 1, 2022 by Ashley Zhinin.
This material provides information on normative ranges for characteristics and durations related to swallowing to improve understanding of swallowing differences versus disorders.
This content is only available to members.