Swallowing Therapy
Are you having trouble swallowing? Speech therapy can help you!
Swallowing problems can result from a variety of neurological impairments including stroke, brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and ALS. Here are common symptoms:
Coughing during or right after meals
Food or liquid remaining in the mouth after meals
Poor lip closure
Food or liquid spilling from the mouth
Frequent drooling
Complaints of food "sticking"
Globus sensation—complaints of a "fullness" in the neck
Complaints of pain when swallowing
Wet or 'gurgly' sounding voice during or after meals
Difficulty coordinating breathing and swallowing
Recurrent pneumonia
Extra effort/time needed to chew
Changes in eating habits—specifically, avoidance of certain foods/drinks
Dysphagia Therapy
A speech-language pathologist completes a dysphagia evaluation to determine where the problem is happening, potential causes, and treatment methods. Treatment of swallowing problems incorporates education in strategies for safe swallowing, recommendations for food textures if needed, and a personalized exercise program. Imaging of the swallow mechanism is often recommended to assist with rehabilitation.
We Are Dysphagia Certified Providers Of…
McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP) is a systematic exercise-based approach to dysphagia therapy in adults. Rather than a specific technique, MDTP is a framework from which to provide individualized therapy using exercise science principles.
Myofascial Release (MFR) is a form of manual therapy that involves applying gentle and sustained pressure into the fascial tissue (connective tissue) to eliminate pain and improve range of motion. MFR has evidence to support its use to improve swallowing in head and neck cancer and instances of increased muscle tension.
Ready to improve your swallowing abilities with dysphagia therapy? Set up a time to speak with us!
Speech Therapy for Swallowing
Read some of our articles to learn more about dysphagia and swallowing therapy
Are you having trouble swallowing and your doctor warned you about aspiration? Maybe they even told you that you are at risk for aspiration pneumonia! It’s time to breakdown what this actually means and how likely you are to acquire it. Read on for some education. 6 Min Read