Feeding Therapy -> Swallowing

Swallowing

Therapists utilize a combination of Compensatory Techniques and Direct Treatment strategies to improve the safety of oral intake by reducing the risk for aspiration while maintaining quality of life. Compensatory Techniques are used to increase control of the swallow to protect the airway and reduce aspiration risk. These include positioning strategies to redirect the movement of food or liquid in the mouth and throat safely to the esophagus, swallowing maneuvers which change the timing or strength of the movements of swallowing to safely move food or liquid in the mouth and throat safely to the esophagus, and modification of food and liquid consistencies to improve control of allow for safe oral intake. Direct Treatment involves the completion of exercise to improve range of motion, coordination, and the strengthening of muscles of the jaw, lips, cheek, tongue, soft palate, and vocal cords to improve swallow function.

Minor focus areas

Visual Schedule Cards

Related Disorder(s)

  • Swallowing disorders - Having trouble swallowing (dysphagia) is a symptom that accompanies a number of neurological disorders. The problem can occur at any stage of the normal swallowing process as food and liquid move from the mouth, down the back of the throat, through the esophagus and into the stomach.
  • Feeding disorders - A feeding disorder, in infancy or early childhood, is a child's refusal to eat certain food groups, textures, solids or liquids for a period of at least one month, which causes the child to not gain enough weight, grow naturally or cause any developmental delays.

Assessments

  • Bedside Dysphagia preview

    Bedside Dysphagia

    During this portion of the evaluation, the patient's history is reviewed for possible etiologic factors that may contribute to swallowing disorders.

Therapists

Therapists who selected this major focus area as their top area of expertise.

  • Bailey Morgan

    Bailey Morgan

    CCC-SLP

    Bailey Morgan, MA, CCC-SLP is a New York State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who specializ...

    • Ambitious Idea Labs (Ambiki) Ambitious Idea Labs (Ambiki)
    • Ambiki Demo Ambiki Demo
    • Test Test
    • Test Practice Test Practice
    • Sidekick Therapy Partners Sidekick Therapy Partners

Reference links

  • Dysphagia Treatment Strategies 0 Author: Amy Speech & Language Therapy, Inc. - Dysphagia Treatment is decided upon once a diagnosis is confirmed however many facets should be involved in that determination The clinician will choose a treatment program, based on the etiology, mental and physical capacity, and quality of life. They should discuss the treatment protocol with the patient and their family; how it will help them achieve the safest and least restrictive diet, what's happening to them anatomically, etc., and present all treatment options available for their specific swallowing problem.
  • A Little PEP Goes a Long Way In the Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders 2 Author: Teresa Boggs and Neina Ferguson - Feeding disorder in young children is a growing concern, particularly feeding challenges with sensory and/or behavioral underpinning. These feeding disorders are characterized by food refusal, anxiety when presented with novel foods, failure to advance to textured foods, and inappropriate mealtime behaviors. The Positive Eating Program (PEP) was developed to remediate feeding disorders by providing rich experiences in food vocabulary, positive sensory nonfood and food activities, and structured and predictable through trials