SWALLOWING EXERCISES AND HANDOUTS ON ASPIRATION & DYSPHAGIA

WHAT IS DYSPHAGIA?

Dysphagia is difficulty with swallowing. It means it takes more time and effort to move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Dysphagia can occur at any age, but it’s more common in older adults. Stroke is a very common cause of dysphagia. About 50% of people who have had a stroke also have dysphagia.

WHAT IS PHARYNGEAL DYSPHAGIA?

The second stage of swallowing is called the pharyngeal phase. It begins when the tongue pushes the food or liquid to the back of the mouth. This triggers a swallowing response that passes the food through the pharynx, or throat. During this phase, the larynx (voice box) closes tightly and breathing stops to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway and lungs. Patients may have pharyngeal dysphagia if a slowness or inadequacy occurs in the pharyngeal phase of a swallow.

Patient education handouts on dysphagia, aspiration and instrumental swallowing assessments are provided in this resource, as well as, ten carefully chosen research based swallow strengthening exercises.

We believe that you could easily set up an effective dysphagia treatment program for your clients by using this important resource. Set up the each patient's take home practice program after training the exercises and do so with the re-assurance of knowing that the exercises have all been proven to help other's improve in swallowing abilities. A reference page has been provided that cites the research that has been completed for each exercise.

We made sure to illustrate each exercise in this resource and to provide specific instructions on how to complete each exercise. Explanations are provided step-by-step. The reasoning behind the exercise is also provided. For example; The Yawn exercise is designed to help improve the strength and movement of the posterior tongue base, which will improve the efficiency of the posterior pharyngeal wall muscles. Improvement in these muscles should improve a patient's swallowing function.

Here is the contents of the unit:

Page 4: What is Dysphagia? (handout).

Page 5: Possible Causes of Dysphagia handout.

Page 6: Instrumental Dysphagia Assessments.

Page 7: Swallowing Information handout.

Page 8: What is Aspiration? (handout)

Page 9: Signs of Aspiration and Dysphagia handout.

Pages 10: Swallowing exercise program tips.

Pages 11-12: Ten Illustrated Swallowing Exercises.

Page 13: Effortful Swallow Exercise.

Page 14: Dynamic Shaker Exercise.

Page 15: Static Shaker Exercise.

Page 16: Masako Maneuver.

Page 17: Yawn Exercise.

Page 18: Pitch Glide Exercise.

Page 19: Tongue Back/Gargle Exercise.

Page 20: Supraglottic Swallow.

Page 21: Mendelsohn Maneuver.

Page 22: Towel Tuck Exercise.

Page 23: Swallowing Mechanism.

Page 24: Reference page.

In addition to reviewing the contents above, please also download the preview to see slides of many of the handouts and exercises included in this download. We would like you to see exactly what you are purchasing before you do!

Thank you so much for stopping by our Twin Speech, Language & Literacy TpT shop today. We wish you all well and appreciate your support very much!

Sincerely,

Shanda Gaunt, M.S. CCC-SLP

Manda Riebel, M.A. CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologists

Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC

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Disclaimer:

If you feel pain or discomfort while doing these exercises, temporarily stop. Tell your healthcare provider or therapist right away. Do not practice these exercises unless they have been prescribed for you. Completing these exercises are at your own risk and Twin Speech, Language & Literacy LLC is not liable for any discomfort, pain or injuries that may/could possibly occur. Remember to consult your health care professional before attempting any exercises.