Effective dysphagia management involves consideration of a number of factors that may potentially impact safe and efficient swallowing. Recommendations regarding diet, therapeutic techniques, or non-oral feeding can have implications well beyond the swallow system they are designed to impact. Dysphagia clinicians are faced with large amounts of information from a variety of sources, some of it conflicting, as we struggle to provide our clients with the best advice and counsel.

This course reviews the available evidence in a number of areas of dysphagia management including use of thick liquids, exercise and electrical stimulation, oral hygiene, and risk factors for aspiration pneumonia to assist clinicians in decision-making. Normal swallow characteristics, which are sometimes misdiagnosed as dysphagia including prolonged dwell times and laryngeal penetration were discussed. Ethical considerations impacting dysphagia management including patient compliance and end-of-life issues will also be reviewed.

This Seminar-On-Demand is 6 contact hours in length (check your state’s approval status in the state specific course catalog for your profession).