It was about time we had a conversation about dysphagia in people with head and neck cancer (HNC). And this time our guest was none other than Prof Katherine A Hutcheson from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Kate answered all our questions about HNC-related dysphagia and its presentation, prehabilitation and instrumental assessment […]

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Welcome to a new episode, this time with Prof. Rainer Dziewas, a neurologist and expert in the field of swallowing and swallowing disorders. For this episode, we asked Rainer to explain how swallowing works on a neurophysiological level because we believe that for dysphagia clinicians like us, understanding the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms is essential for

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Join us in this episode as we explore the world of pediatric feeding disorders in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with Dr. Pamela Dodrill, a Pediatric Feeding Specialist. Together with her co-authors, Pamela developed a consensus definition and conceptual framework for pediatric feeding disorders and she was part of the FOIS-P team, the Functional

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As clinicians working in dysphagia management, providing guidance on different consistencies to support our patients in their rehabilitation process and daily life is a fundamental aspect of our clinical responsibilities. However, effective communication about these consistencies is a recurring challenge for both patients and clinicians. In previous episodes, you have already heard us talk about

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In this episode we speak to Dr. Paula Leslie and explore the ethical considerations that shape patient care. Paula discusses the delicate balance between benefits and risks that must be maintained specifically in the management of dysphagia. She also provides insights into real-life ethical dilemmas and shares global perspectives that influence our clinical practice as

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At this year’s conference of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD), we had the great pleasure of speaking with Prof. Maggie-Lee Huckabee. Together we discussed her recently published article “The Evolution of Swallowing Rehabilitation and Emergence of Biofeedback Modalities” (Huckabee et al., 2023). Maggie-Lee explains how our understanding of swallowing and swallowing rehabilitation has

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Pneumonia is considered one of the most critical consequences of dysphagia, and in some patient populations it is a leading cause of death. Although pneumonia plays a major role in our clinical decision-making process as SLTs, we felt that we did not know enough about it. To change that, we invited Dr Harmeet Bedi, a

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In this episode, Prof. Janina Wilmskoetter takes us on a journey into the depths of the brain to help us understand the potential impact of stroke on swallowing.  Why does a stroke cause dysphagia in some people and not in others? And why do some recover more quickly than others? Does the location or size

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In this episode we speak to Prof. Michelle Troche and delve into the crucial topic of airway protection and its connection to swallowing and coughing. Together we explore two approaches: Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) as a strength based approach and the skill based approach called sensorimotor training for airway protection (smTAP). Michelle explains the

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One challenge in dysphagia rehabilitation is the complexity of swallowing itself. Swallowing involves a series of intricate muscle movements and coordination, and it can be challenging for individuals with dysphagia to gain optimal control. Principles of motor learning can greatly enhance dysphagia rehabilitation by providing a systematic framework for optimising the (re-) learning process and improving

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