Why is your swallow affected?
Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing disorders.
It can occur as a result of the nerves associated with swallowing being damaged, or the muscles for swallowing being weak.
If the nerves for swallowing are damaged, this can potentially lead to reduced lip, tongue and jaw strength and range of motion, which are all important for swallowing. It can also impact on our throat muscles which help to squeeze food along to the stomach, as well as the protective flap which helps to prevent food from going into the lungs.
Food going into the lungs rather than to the stomach can cause a chest infection, potentially leading to aspiration pneumonia which can be life threatening.
A Speech therapist's role is to provide exercises to help strengthen the muscles for swallowing, or suggest postures to help direct the food the correct way or make it easier to swallow.
We also suggest different textured foods which may be more manageable, or different consistencies of fluid. You may have been advised to have IDDSI Level 1, 2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 7*
Check out this link for explanations of food and drink descriptors provided by Speech and Language therapists https://iddsi.org/framework/
Sometimes it's difficult to make appropriate food modifications in line with the Speech therapist's recommendations, the book below may help.
I do receive a commission for purchases made via the links above.
Leeanne Mark
L A Mark Speech therapy
Speech and Language therapist
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