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Swallowing Disorders
Learn to Swallow Again.
Swallowing is as necessary to life as breathing. Patients experiencing difficulties swallowing have a condition called dysphagia, which affects an estimated 15 million Americans.
Sierra is a Dysphagia Expert. Call now: 541.600.2028
Types of dysphagia are:
• Oral-preparatory: inattention to food or inability to feed ones self
• Oral: involving difficulty chewing and preparing food in the mouth
• Pharyngeal: involving difficulty with protecting the airway from aspiration
• Esophageal: difficulty with food passing through the esophagus.
Signs of a swallowing disorder may include:
• Coughing or choking when eating
• Food feeling stuck in the throat
• Messy eating
• Excessive throat clearing
• Gurgly/wet voice while eating
• Pain during the swallow
• Sudden weight loss
• Decreased intake, lack of motivation
• Inadequate chewing or holding food in the mouth
• Pneumonia or respiratory changes
Below is one of my Youtube videos on aphasia.
Below is one of my Youtube video's on dysphagia.
My swallowing muscles have been strengthened and I can feel the swallow more distinctly. And a few modifications to the process of swallowing have reduced my coughing significantly - and in just a few sessions. – Patricia Diehl
Clients with a range of diagnoses can have dysphagia, including, stroke, brain injury, dementia, other progressive diseases, and head/neck cancer.
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EST offers exciting therapies for swallow problems called neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP). NMES is used to re-educate the muscles to improve their function with electrical stimulation. MDTP is a systematic program that uses exercises science and eating as the exercise to strengthen the swallow muscles. Both of these therapies are potentially appropriate even if you are not currently eating.
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We also utilize traditional swallow techniques, like home exercise programs, strategies, swallow postures, environmental modifications, and finding the safest food and drink textures as needed.
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If you notice a loved one losing weight, coughing when eating, or any other symptom listed above, swallow therapy can help.
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Visit www.youtube.com/eugenespeechtherapy for more videos.
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