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Nutrition Essentials for Modified Diets

A Guide to Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Boosting Nutritional Intake 1. What Is Nutrition? Nutrition is the process by which our bodies take in and use food substances to support growth, repair tissues, maintain organ function, and provide energy. For patients with dysphagia or those requiring texture-modified diets, ensuring adequate nutrition becomes more challenging—but also more…

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Modern Dysphagia Cooking: Turn Family Favorites into Dysphagia-Friendly Dishes

If you haven’t heard, Simply Thick is at it again. This time, they have published a cook book with dysphagia-friendly recipes. I was really excited to get this book in my hands. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, however this cookbook is amazing!! The cookbook contain IDDSI compliant recipes for levels 4, 5 and 6. What I love the most about this cook book is that the recipes are simple.…

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My Patient had their MBSS, Now What Do I Do?

Once upon a time, I worked in a setting and had to send my patients out for the MBSS. Now, I am able to complete my own MBSS. One thing I take into account when I am doing an MBSS for another SLP is making sure they get a complete study. I have actually gone to several CE courses regarding MBSS in the last 2 years. When I say a complete MBSS, I don’t mean that I test 15 different foods using…

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The History of the Modified Barium Swallow Study

No matter what you call it…there is a history behind the Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS). Gold Standard? The Modified Barium Swallow Study has long been called THE gold standard in dysphagia evaluation, however it does have its limitations.   The MBSS definitely continues to be A gold standard in swallowing evaluation. Early Days In the 1970’s, Dr. Jeri Logemann developed the MBSS or the…

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The Dysphagia Awareness Bundle

The Dysphagia Awareness Bundle

Take your Dysphagia Awareness game to the next level with The Dysphagia Awareness Bundle!! If you’re like me,  you could talk about swallowing and dysphagia for hours, but you are way too busy to have time to always make the educational materials that you need. I have done the work for you! The Dysphagia Awareness Bundle includes: A quiz with dysphagia facts with separate answer sheet PDF slides…

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SWIK Oral Suction System

SWIK Oral Suction System

ASHA Convention 2021 I absolutely love going to the ASHA convention.   I think my favorite part of the convention is networking and finding new and amazing products. I was so excited this year to find the SWIK Oral Suction System. I know…..what in the heck is that?? SWIK Oral Suction System I went into the exhibit hall this year the minute it opened and the SWIK booth was right there in front of…

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Intensive Dysphagia Rehabilitation (IDR)

Intensive Dysphagia Rehabilitation (IDR)

Dysphagia Rehabilitation Over the past 15-20 our efforts in the treatment of dysphagia have moved from compensation and management to rehabilitation. We know that through the principles of neuroplasticity that swallowing is the best way to have the patient rehabilitate the swallow.   Having the patient swallow challenging bolus types or swallow without the use of compensation (chin tuck) can…

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Treating Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Treating Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

When treating patients with head and neck cancer, there are many questions and pieces of the puzzle that need to be put together.  You are always assessing where the cancer was, the type and amount of treatment received (surgery, CRT), prior and current swallowing status, etc. Timing of therapy is critical for rehabilitation.   Preferably, therapy can be initiated prior to cancer treatment so a…

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Math and Dysphagia

Fighting Dysphagia with an Unlikely Weapon: Math (Part 1) A Guest Post by: George Barnes MS CCC-SLP Co-author: Doreen Benson MS CCC-SLP (more…)

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SimplyThick Level 1 Thickening Packets

SimplyThick Level 1 Thickening Packets

*This post is sponsored by SimplyThick.   Although SimplyThick has paid for this post, I am a huge fan of SimplyThick when liquids need to be thickened!  You can visit the SimplyThick Dysphagia Ramblings page here to request free samples.* SimplyThick (you know, the gel thickener) was founded back in 2001 by John Holahan.   SimplyThick was founded when a prototype was created using a liquid…

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The Dysphagia Outreach Project Giving Event

The Dysphagia Outreach Project Giving Event

The Dysphagia Outreach Project Giving Event 2020

Guest Post By:  Jessica Lasky, MS, CCC-SLP and Allison Boyer, MA, CCC-SLP

Who We Are

The Dysphagia Outreach Project is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2019. The mission of the Dysphagia Outreach Project is to provide meaningful assistance to low-income individuals affected by dysphagia via our Dysphagia…

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IDDSI

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiation is here and being utilized in many facilities.

IDDSI was created to replace the National Dysphagia Diet and to standardize food and liquid consistencies.

I’m sure you have probably been in a number of facilities that interpret Mechanical Soft, Dysphagia Soft, etc a little different than other facilities.   Some facilities allow a number…

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Measuring Outcomes for Success.....What are You Using?

Measuring Outcomes for Success…..What are You Using?

The Dysphagia Toolbox

I have written about the Dysphagia Toolbox before.    The Dysphagia Toolbox used to be a website that offered links to standardized and reliable tools that you can use in dysphagia assessment and with reassessment.  

                                            Why a toolbox?

The one thing I can’t help thinking is why we call it a toolbox.  Do most of you actually carry a…

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How Does Cognition Affect Swallowing

How Does Cognition Affect Swallowing

Cognition can impact many facets of life including swallowing.

Patients may be confused  enough that they don’t “recognize” food in their mouth and effectively may not know what to do with that food.

For example, when I was working in the acute care hospital, I evaluated a patient in the ICU that had sodium levels outside of normal parameters.  This person had difficulty recognizing solids in…

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Dysphagia Following Extubation Part 2

Dysphagia Following Extubation Part 2

We know that intubation can impact the swallow.   How does intubation affect swallowing?

Is it a strength deficit or a sensory deficit?

This post will take a look at studies that look at the impact of intubation on sensation of the tongue and the larynx.

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Dysphagia Following Extubation Part 1

Dysphagia Following Extubation Part 1. How do you determine when a patient is appropriate for dysphagia evaluation following extubation?

When it comes to patients that are intubated, there are a lot of factors to consider.

What is their current diagnosis, why are they intubated, how long were they intubated?   Was intubation traumatic?   Have they self-extubated?

There is a lot of discussion over the timing of the evaluation.   Traditionally, it has been thought that there needs to be a period of 24 hours following extubation to…