Swallowing Problems (Dysphagia)
- Medical Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are the Preferred Providers for Dysphagia Services.
- Medical SLPs have extensive experience in providing dysphagia services.
- The overall knowledge and skills obtained by medical SLPs in their professional training provides an exemplary and essential foundation for successful evaluation and treatment of dysphagia in adults associated with medical problems such as stroke, head and neck cancer and cerebral palsy.
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Stroke
Stroke•Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)•Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease•Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis•Cerebral palsy (CP)
Cerebral palsy (CP)•Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease•Radiation therapy as a result of head and neck cancer
Radiation therapy as a result of head and neck cancer•Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis•Other degenerative and muscular conditions
Other degenerative and muscular conditionsCopyright 2010 Educational Consultants Group | Last updated: November 29, 2011
Did you know?
Did you know that the average person swallows approximately 582 times per day and 50 pairs of muscles and many nerves work together to move food from the mouth to the stomach?
Swallowing dysfunction can be a complication of many conditions, including:
Dysphagia occurs when there is a problem with any part of the swallowing process. Any condition that weakens or damages the muscles and nerves used for swallowing may cause dysphagia. Often people with diseases of the nervous system, have problems swallowing, as well as victims of stroke or a head injury. Also, cancer of the head, neck, or esophagus may cause swallowing problems.
As many as half of all Americans over 60 will experience dysphagia. People with dysphagia
have difficulty swallowing and may also
experience pain while swallowing. Eating
may become a challenge.
Educational Consultants Group Dysphasia Treatment Program includes a number of specialized treatments. One of those is Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Therapy, which uses small electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. Biofeedback Therapy actively involves the patient in the therapy process, providing visual feedback that challenges and motivates the patient to improve laryngeal elevation. The computerized biofeedback therapy provides synergy, since the signal on the computer increases with increasing amount of laryngeal elevation or masseter contraction. The immediate nature of the feedback minimizes patient frustration and anxiety.
The supplementation of Dysphagia treatment with electrical stimulation combined with biofeedback therapy helps patients "re-educate" their muscles. Dysphagia treatment supplement with E-stim and biofeedback is a non-invasive, painless treatment, and is effective for all ages.
Therapy is provided using uniquely external skin electrodes. They place the electrodes on specific neck muscles in specific pattern. The electrical current emitted by the NMES device stimulates inactive or atrophied swallowing muscles as the therapist administers rehabilitation therapy to help re-educate the muscles. For example, patients practice eating and perform exercises under the direction of the therapist and re-educate their muscle with biofeedback.
Our Intensive Therapy Program offers sessions daily (or almost every day) until the patient’s swallowing patterns are restored to the optimum level. Patients frequently see dramatic improvement in 9 daily sessions – sometimes in as little as 5 days.
Systematic treatment for swallowing problems is available at Educational Consultants Group.
Patients at Educational Consultants Group see results.
Some patients see improvement in as little as six treatments, while others may require 20 or more.
Find out if Dysphagia Treatment supplemented with
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Biofeedback are right for you.
Give us a call today for a swallowing screening to find out if this specialized treatment can help you!
(813) 373-0016
Patients in the Dysphagia Treatment Program at Educational Consultants Group have experienced significant results, including:
•Increased swallowing function
Increased swallowing function•Increased vocal intensity
Increased vocal intensity•Increased tone and movement of facial muscles
Increased tone and movement of facial muscles•Decreased choking episodes
Decreased choking episodes•In some cases, discontinuation of a feeding tube
In some cases, discontinuation of a feeding tubeHave questions? Need help? Call us today!
(813) 373-0016
Do you or someone you care for have a swallowing problem? If so, please take a moment to complete the following questionnaire. It is designed to help establish the severity of the swallowing problem.
For each question below, indicate how severe the swallowing problem is.
11.How much difficulty do you have swallowing at present?
How much difficulty do you have swallowing at present?Please enter your name and phone number and we will contact you with the results:
Name:
Phone Number:
12.How much difficulty do you have swallowing THIN liquids? (eg: tea,soft drink,beer)
How much difficulty do you have swallowing THIN liquids? (eg: tea,soft drink,beer)13.How much difficulty do you have swallowing THICK liquids? (eg: milkshakes,soups)
How much difficulty do you have swallowing THICK liquids? (eg: milkshakes,soups)14.How much difficulty do you have swallowing SOFT foods? (eg: eggs, potatoes)
How much difficulty do you have swallowing SOFT foods? (eg: eggs, potatoes)15.How much difficulty do you have swallowing HARD foods? (eg: steak, vegetables)
How much difficulty do you have swallowing HARD foods? (eg: steak, vegetables)16.How much difficulty do you have swallowing DRY foods? (eg: bread,nuts)
How much difficulty do you have swallowing DRY foods? (eg: bread,nuts)17.Do you have any difficulty swallowing your saliva?
Do you have any difficulty swallowing your saliva?18.Do you have any difficulty starting a swallow?
Do you have any difficulty starting a swallow?19.Do you ever feel as if food is getting stuck in your throat when you swallow?
Do you ever feel as if food is getting stuck in your throat when you swallow?10.Do you ever cough or choke when swallowing solid foods? (eg: bread,meat,fruit)
Do you ever cough or choke when swallowing solid foods? (eg: bread,meat,fruit)11.Do you ever cough or choke when swallowing liquids? (eg: coffee,tea,water,beer)
Do you ever cough or choke when swallowing liquids? (eg: coffee,tea,water,beer)12.How long does it take you to eat an average meal?
How long does it take you to eat an average meal?13.Does food or liquid go up behind or come out of your nose when swallowing?
Does food or liquid go up behind or come out of your nose when swallowing?14.Do you ever need to swallow more than once for your food to go down?
Do you ever need to swallow more than once for your food to go down?15.Do you ever cough up or spit out food or liquids DURING a meal?
Do you ever cough up or spit out food or liquids DURING a meal?16.How do you rate the severity of your swallowing problem today?
How do you rate the severity of your swallowing problem today?17.How much does your swallowing problem interfere with your quality of life?
How much does your swallowing problem interfere with your quality of life?
