Swallowing difficulties, diagnostics and treatments in South Louisiana is the topic for this post. Some swallowing difficulties can’t be prevented and dysphagia treatment is necessary. A speech-language pathologist will perform a swallowing evaluation to diagnosis your dysphagia. Once the evaluation is completed, the speech pathologist may recommend: diet modification, oropharyngeal swallowing exercises to strengthen muscles, compensatory swallowing strategies, postural modifications that you should follow while eating. However, if swallowing problems are persistent, they can result in malnutrition and dehydration, especially in the very young and in older adults. Recurrent respiratory infections and aspiration pneumonia are also likely. All of these complications are serious and life-threatening and must be treated definitively.
Compensatory techniques alter the swallow when used but do not create lasting functional change. An example of a compensatory technique includes a head rotation, which is used during the swallow to direct the bolus toward one of the lateral channels of the pharyngeal cavity. Although this technique may increase swallow safety during the swallow, there is no lasting benefit or improvement in physiology when the technique is not used. The purpose of the technique is to compensate for deficits that cannot be or are not yet rehabilitated sufficiently. Rehabilitative techniques, such as exercises, are designed to create lasting change in an individual’s swallowing over time by improving underlying physiological function. The intent of many exercises is to improve function in the future rather than compensate for a deficit in the moment. Find extra info at Swallowing disorders.
A blockage or a malfunction anywhere in this part of the body or in the nervous system controlling swallowing can result in dysphagia. There are two types: Esophageal dysphagia occurs when food/liquid stops in the esophagus. This can happen in several ways. Stomach acid can reflux into the esophagus. Over time, the reflux causes inflammation and a narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus. Food and eventually liquids feel like they are sticking in the middle and lower chest. There may be chest discomfort or even real pain. Fortunately, physicians can usually dilate (widen) this narrowing, and there is now treatment available to keep it from returning. Cancer, hiatus hernia, and certain muscle disorders of the esophagus are less frequent causes of esophageal dysphagia. Solid food is usually more of a problem than liquids.
High quality images paired with in-depth analysis of swallowing function leads to improved recommendations. Timely assessments! We aim to have your patient evaluated within 1-2 business days. Cost-effective! FEES costs about 1/4 to 1/2 of a traditional modified barium swallow study (MBSS) at the hospital. We work our hardest to prevent your patient from being placed on texture modified diets but if they need to, we can prove with objective data for accurate documentation. We take the time to help you come up with strategies and make recommendations that ACTUALLY WORK! Discover extra info on dysphagiainmotion.com.