Swallowing Intervention

Swallowing intervention encompasses the assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders (dysphagia) across the lifespan—from premature infants to elderly adults. Safe and efficient swallowing requires the precise coordination of over 30 muscles and multiple cranial nerves. When this coordination is disrupted, individuals are at risk for aspiration, pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration.

Swallowing disorders can result from a wide range of medical conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, respiratory illness, and the effects of aging. Symptoms may be overt, such as coughing during meals, or silent, where material enters the airway without any visible signs. Instrumental assessment is often needed to fully evaluate swallowing safety.

Speech-language pathologists are uniquely qualified to evaluate and treat swallowing disorders. Intervention is individualized and may include swallowing exercises to improve strength and coordination, compensatory strategies and postural techniques, sensory stimulation, diet modifications, and patient and caregiver education. The goal of treatment is to achieve the safest and least restrictive diet possible while maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration.