Dysphagia – swallowing disorders
Dysphagia – swallowing disorders
Our speech and language therapists assess, diagnose and manage swallowing disorders (known as dysphagia) associated with acquired neurological disorders, stroke, head injury, palliative care and respiratory disorders.
Our aim is to identify people who are at risk of aspiration (inhaling food or fluid into the airway) and to ensure that your eating and drinking is safe and sufficient. It is helpful for us to be involved in your care at an early stage as we can contribute to the diagnosis and management of swallowing difficulties.
We provide information about the results of assessments, agreed oral intake any appropriate swallowing strategies.
Referral
You can self-refer into our service by contact the Speech and Language Therapy admin hub on 01274 221166, or ask another professional involved in your care to refer you. For both self and professional service referrals please use the referral form below.
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If food or drink enters your airway (trachea) rather than travelling down towards your stomach (via the oesophagus) you may observe:
- coughing or choking before, during or after eating or drinking
- changes in breathing, eg: wheezing or shortness of breath
- wet or ‘gurgly’ voice quality after eating or drinking
- changes in facial colour, turning red, grey or blue
- eyes watering.
Other acute signs of eating and drinking difficulties can include:
- fatigue during a meal
- increased length of mealtime
- significant changes in eating or swallowing foods/liquids
- complaints of discomfort or food getting stuck
- difficulty clearing the mouth, food spilling out of the mouth, reduced chewing
- change in the amount/consistency of saliva
- chronic signs (become evident over a period of time)
- repeated chest infections (particularly of the right lung)
- weight loss
- general ill health – urinary tract infections, dehydration, pressure sores
- reduced appetite, food avoidance or refusal
- behavioural changes associated with mealtimes
- requires support to maintain oral health
- requires support for feeding
- changes in positioning for eating and drinking (slouching, head tipped back, leaning to
one side).
Please inform or refer to the Speech and Language Therapy team if these signs are observed
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The International Dysphagic Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is the official framework used internationally to provide a common way of describing food and drink thickness, in order to improve the safety of people with swallowing difficulties. We use this framework in the resources below.
IDDSI Level three – Preparing foods for a liquidised diet
IDDSI Level three – Liquidised diet information sheet
IDDSI Level four – Preparing foods for a pureed diet
IDDSI Level four – Pureed diet information sheet
IDDSI Level five – Preparing food for a minced and moist diet
IDDSI Level five – Minced and moist diet information sheet
IDDSI Level six – Preparing soft and bite-sized food
IDDSI Level six – Soft and bite-sized diet information sheet
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The International Dysphagic Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is the official framework which provides a common way of describing food and drink thickness, in order to improve the safety of people with swallowing difficulties. We use this framework in the resources below.
IDDS Level two – Information on mildly thick fluids
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