Dysphagia Sympt
Patient
presents
with
SEVERITY
TYPE
dysphagia
character
Swallow
Initiation
(watch
for
hyoid
movement)
should
be
triggered
when
ORAL
STAGE
Underlying
cause
Wh
An
Weak/incomplete
lips
closure
Tongue
thrust
Bo
Weak
jaw
movement
Re
Decreased
rotary
movement
(munching)
late
Decreased
dentition,
poor-‐fitting
dentures
Buccinator
weakness
Tongue
weakness/incoordination
Po
Decreased
sensation
Tongue
weakness/incoordination
Re
Tongue
weakness/incoordination
Dif
Neurosensory
deficit
Sw
Decreased
sensation
in
the
pharyngeal
wall
(neurosensory
deficit)
Un
Poor
tongue
base
retraction
Re
PHARYNGEAL
STAGE
Incomplete
epiglottal
inversion
Decreased
laryngeal
elevation
Re
Decreased
PES
opening
Weak
pharyngeal
constrictiors
Re
Swallow
delay/neurosensory
deficits
Pen
Posterior
escape
of
the
bolus
Incomplete
epiglottal
inversion
Pen
Timing
issue
with
airway
closure
(e.g.
d/t
VF
paralysis,
arytenoids
sw
coming
forward
towards
pedial
of
epiglottis
Residue
in
the
pyriforms
or
vallecula
Pen
Backflow/Reflux
sw
Reduced
PES
opening
d/t
reduced
laryngeal
elevation
Re
SpeechRamblings.weebly.com
toms & Treatment
rized
by
UNDERLYING
CAUSE
resulting
in
WHAT
I
SEE.
bolus
head
is
rolling
off
back
of
tongue
(LIQUIDS)
or
at
vallecula
(SOLIDS)
hat
I
see:
Try
to
compensate
during
meals
with…
nterior
loss
of
bolus
olus
poorly
chewed
esidue
collection/oral
stasis
in
Head
tilt
strong
side
eral
sulcus
(pocketing)
Lingual
sweep
(w/finger
prn)
Place
bolus
on
strong
side
osterior
escape
of
the
bolus
Neck
extension
Place
bolus
on
strong
side
esidue
collection
on
tongue
Modify
bolus
size
fficulty
a-‐p
transit
Slurp
and
swallow
wallow
delay
nable
to
initiate
swallow
Thermal
stimulation
esidue
in
the
vallecula
Head
tilt
strong
side
esidue
in
the
pyriforms
Chin
tuck
Multiple
swallows
esidue
on
postpharyngeal
wall
Valsalva
maneuver
(effortful
swallow)
netration/aspiration
B4
swallow
Head
turn
weak
side
netration/aspiration
during
Chin
tuck
wallow
Supraglottic
swallow
Super-‐supraglottic
swallow
netration/aspiration
during
Vocal
quality
check
wallow
esidue
at
the
PES
Head
turn
weak
side
Super-‐Supraglottic
swallow
Valsalva
maneuver
(effortful
swallow)
Compensatory Strateg
Strategy
Use
for
(generally)
Procedures
Ra
General
Any
self-‐feeding
and
Sit
upright
(90
degrees),
Pro
swallowing
arms
well
supported
and
eff
feet
flat
on
floor,
had
aligned
w/trunk
Pelvis
as
far
back
in
seat
as
Slo
possible
hyo
Head
tilt
to
Unilateral
oral
AND
Tilt
head
after
accepting
Inc
strong
side
pharyngeal
weakness
bolus
and
during
swallow
str
fac
Postural
(take
advantage
of
gravity)
(face
stays
forward)
bo
Head
turn
to
Unilateral
pharyngeal
Rotate
head
90
degree
He
weak
side
weakness;
decreased
after
accepting
bolus
and
we
PES
opening
during
swallow
(face
sid
moves)
ma
Chin
tuck
Swallow
delay
Tuck
chin
to
chest
before
Ma
w/pen-‐asp;
initiating
swallow
bo
decreased
tongue
ent
base
retraction;
bac
vallecular
pooling
epi
Side
laying
Diffuse
pharyngeal
Lay
on
side
throughout
Lat
on
strong
residue
d/t
reduced
meal
on
fully
or
semi-‐ gra
side
pharyngeal
reclined
bed/chair
sw
contraction
gat
tha
Neck
Diminished
a-‐p
Take
deep
breath,
hold
it,
Uti
ph
extension
transit
d/t
lingual
then
bring
chin
up/lean
weak/incoordination’
head
back
Early
ALS
or
altered
anatomy
d/t
cancer
SpeechRamblings.weebly.com
gies (use during meal)
ationale
Notes
ovide
best
possible
scenario
for
a
safe,
Do
all
this
when
possible
–
all
ficient
swallow
aspects
may
not
be
feasible
ouching
in
posterior
pelvic
tilt
limits
oid
elevation
creased
sensation/motor
rength/coordination
on
strong
side
may
cilitate
improved
oral
control,
and
olus
formation/propulsion
elps
prevent
bolus
from
traveling
to
Pair
w/chin
tuck
for
potentially
eak
side
by
reducing
the
size
of
this
enhanced
effects
de’s
pharyngeal
cavities;
external
pull
ay
facilitate
opening
of
PES
ay
widen
vallecular
space,
preventing
Greatest
effects
are
in
airway
olus
from
entering
airway;
narrow
protection
and
tongue-‐base
retraction;
watch
for
bird-‐necking
trance
to
airway;
pushes
tongue
base
(CAN’T
use
w/poor
lip
closure
or
ckward
toward
pharyngeal
wall;
puts
oral
control)
iglottis
in
protective
position
teral
head/trunk
position
reduces
Pair
w/multiple
swallows
for
max
avitational
force
on
residue
left
after
effect;
adaptive
equipment
may
wallow,
allowing
it
to
localize
and
help
(swiveling
spoon,
straws)
ther
until
swallow
purposefully
(rather
an
aspirated)
ilizing
gravity
to
propel
bolus
into
MUST
have
prompt,
efficient
harynx
swallow
response
(or
else
bolus
could
roll
directly
into
airway);
can
decrease
PES
ability
to
relax
if
extended
too
far
or
for
too
long
Compensatory Strateg
Lingual
Decreased
oral
Use
tongue
to
sweep
Cle
sweep
sensitivity;
oral
entire
oral
cavity
to
clear
pre
weakness;
oral
oral
residue
following
ton
residue;
pocketing
each
swallow
Cyclic
Bolus
manipulation
Alternate
solids
and
Liq
ingestions/
deficits,
residue
liquids
throughout
meal
una
Liquid
wash
sw
Multiple
Residue
(anywhere
in
Swallow
more
than
once
He
swallows
digestive
tract)
following
each
bolus
until
nex
residue
is
cleared
(#
of
times
indicated
in
MBS)
Thermal
Swallow
delay
Apply
cold
and
sour
Co
stimulation
material
to
faucial
arches
sen
Bolus
Control
or
eat
cold/sour
bolus
sw
after
mastication
of
primary
bolus
Bolus
Pocketing,
poor
Accept
bolus
directly
onto
Re
placement
lingual
coordination;
strong
side
of
mouth
by
bo
on
strong
altered
anatomy
angling
utensil
toward
side
unimpaired
side
Modification
Poor
bolus
control,
Accept
smaller/larger
Lar
of
bolus
size
decreased
sensation
bolus
trig
(swallow
delay)
eas
Modification
Impulsive
patients
Increase
time
btwn
Allo
of
intake
accepting
each
bolus
bo
rate
acc
int
lary
Slurp
and
Weak
a-‐p
bolus
Slurp
or
suck
bolus
Lev
swallow
movement
towards
pharynx
ass
aer
con
SpeechRamblings.weebly.com
gies (use during meal)
ears
as
much
residue
as
possible
to
Use
finger
as
needed
(ex.
lingual
event
buildup;
redirect
residue
to
weakness)
ngue
blade
for
bolus
development
quid
will
help
clear
oral
cavity
residue
able
to
be
management
by
lingual
weep
Some
pts
may
have
hard
time
elps
clear
residue
before
consuming
initiating
a
dry
swallow;
try
using
xt
bolus
to
prevent
buildup
of
residue
empty
spoon
and
apply
pressure
down
on
tongue
old
and
sour
material
is
most
easily
Often
use
spoonful
of
lemon
ice
nsed
and
is
most
likely
to
trigger
or
citric
acid
cyclically
wallow
if
normal
bolus
does
not
educes
need
for
tongue
to
transport
olus
to
molars
and
avoids
weak
side
rger
bolus
is
more
easily
sensed
to
Dementia
population
often
has
gger
swallow;
Smaller
bolus
may
be
decreased
sensitivity
and
requires
sier
to
form
and
control
larger,
more
textured
bolus
ows
ample
time
to
clear
and
swallow
a
May
need
external
control
(ex,
olus
before
ingesting
another;
hold
arm
back
until
completion
of
ceptance
of
bolus
too
early
can
each
swallow,
straw
pinch,
wrist
terfere
with
pressure
buildup
and/or
weight,
give
‘shot
size’
amounts
of
liquids
in
cup)
yngeal
elevation,
causing
pen/asp
Good
for
pts
w/partial
verages
movement
of
intake
air
to
glossectomy
or
if
unable
to
sist
in
bolus
propulsion;
uses
manage
own
secretions;
DO
NOT
rodynamic
pressure
instead
of
lingual
use
if
poor
airway
protection
or
ntrol
pharyngeal
stage
deficits
Compensatory Strateg
Valsalva
Decreased
laryngeal
Swallow
hard
De
sup
Maneuver
elevation
and/or
res
ret
pharyngeal
contraction
Mendelson
Decreased
PES
Mid
swallow
hold:
keep
Inc
Maneuver
opening
hyoid
suspended
for
2
secs
Maneuvers
Supraglottic
Silent
aspiration;
Take
deep
breath
and
hold
Pro
swallow
delayed
airway
firmly
during
swallow;
after
swallow,
cough
protection
before
inhalation;
repeat
Super-‐ Impaired
airway
Supraglottic
swallow
Supraglottic
protection;
diffuse
where
swallow
is
‘hard’
swallow
pharyngeal
(as
if
to
swallow
larger
weakness;
pill)
Vocal
quality
pharyngeal
check
carcinoma
Speak
after
each
swallow;
We
if
voice
is
‘wet’,
ind
Altered
anatomy
dys/aphonic,
cough/clear
dys
throat
and
swallow
again
Premature
spillover/loss
of
bolus
Former
is
d/t
oral
motor/neuromuscular
deficit
(poor
lingual
strengt
-‐-‐-‐-‐
Aspiration
Pnemonia:
Caused
by
material
you
have
swa
V
Aspiration
Pneumonitis:
Caused
by
material
originating
from
the
stomac
vomit)
Leads
to
inflamm
SpeechRamblings.weebly.com
gies (use during meal)
esigned
to
increase
function
of
Watch
for
bird-‐necking;
prahyoid/pharyngeal
musculature,
CAUTION
w/cardiac
pts
(can
sulting
in
increased
tongue
base
increase
vascular
pressure)
traction
creases
duration
of
PES
opening
ovides
volitional
airway
protection
Requires
a
lot
of
coordination;
DO
NOT
USE
w/cardiac
pts
(can
cause
arrhythmias)
DO
NOT
USE
w/cardiac
pts
et
vocal
quality
may
be
a
useful
dicator
of
those
who
have
laryngeal
sfunction
and
are
at
risk
of
aspirating
s
is
not
the
same
as
swallow
delay
th/control),
Latter
is
d/t
neurosensory
deficit
(decreased
sensation)
-‐-‐-‐-‐
allowed
(secretions,
food,
liquid)
that
causes
pnemonia
VS
ch,
i.e.
material
that
has
already
been
swallowed
(gastric
contents,
reflux,
mation
in
the
lungs
d/t
acid!
Rehabilitation ExercisCeosm(upsenosuattsoidryeSotrfamteeg
Impact
on
Swallowing
Exercise
Proced
Cryotherapy
(Hyper)
Ice
lips
Difficulty
removing
bolus
from
after
ex
Lips
spoon
Beckman
Oral
Provide
Acceptance
of
bolus
Stretching
Protocols
moving
Anterior
loss
of
bolus
(Hyper)
position
Strengthen
w/T.D.
Hold
to
Decreased
pressure
generation
Life
Savor
resistance
for
60
s
for
bolus
propulsion
Tie
Life
lips
(bu
Strengthen
w/Widget*
Close/o
IOPI
(Iowa
Oral
Pts
hold
Pressure
Instrument)
achieve
bulb
maintai
Difficulty
forming
bolus
Strengthen
w/Widget
*
Reps,
h
Tongue
Difficulty
transporting
bolus
only,
ke
Laterali
Premature
spillover/posterior
Increase
ROM
w/T.D.
neck
sta
escape
Extend
depress
Decreased
ability
for
lingual
Dexterity
w/Life
Savor
Tie
Life
sweep
Beckman
Oral
Stretching
Protocols
(Hyper)
Apply
s
nerve;
m
exercise
muscles
Buccinators
Decreased
pressure
generation
NMES/E-‐Stim
for
bolus
propulsion
(~6
tx
of
1
hr
each)
Decreased
ability
to
clear
stasis
Decreased
sucking
ability
Strengthen
w/Widget*
Reps,
h
SpeechRamblings.weebly.com
egaielssto(uismepdruorvinegpmerefoarlm) ance during meals)
dure
Rationale/Notes
then
passively
stretch,
follow
with
icing
Temporarily
reduces
xercise
to
maintain
therapeutic
effect
spasticity/pain
by
reducing
nerve
conduction
velocities
e
firm
directed
pressure
to
stretch
lips,
Slowly
and
progressively
g
them
into
lateral,
superior,
and
inferior
relieves
spasm
ns
ongue
depressor
btwn
lips
parallel
to
floor
secs
Savor
to
a
piece
of
floss,
place
behind
pts’
ut
in
front
of
teeth),
pull
floss
for
resistance
open
or
hold
closed
using
lips
only
ds
bulb
between
tongue
and
palate
to
e
target
isometric
pressure
reading
(reps
or
ined
hold
for
target
#
of
secs)
Typical
adult
can
achieve
max
pressure
of
60
kiloPa;
shown
holding;
Hold
up
bottom
to
top
w/tongue
to
improve
lingual
tone
eeping
jaw
steady
(and
vice
versa);
izationpush
one
side
to
the
other,
keep
ationary
tongue
to/through
all
planes,
with
tongue
sor
resistance
against
tongue
blade
Savor
to
piece
of
floss,
have
pt
move
LR
stimulation
pads
to
main
branch
of
facial
must
using
during
functional
swallowing
es
(ex,
mastication)
to
effectively
target
DO
NOT
place
over
infected/
s
cancerous
area;
beware
cardiac/laryngospasm
pts;
holding
btwn
teeth
and
check
Doesn’t
work
on
skin
flaps
taken
from
other
part
of
body
Rehabilitation ExercisCeosm(upsenosuattsoidryeSotrfamteeg
Pharyngeal
VP
Close
Masticators
Gum
to
promote
rotary
Pt
chew
motion
shape
in
Decreased
mastication
Strengthen
w/Widget*
Bite
wid
Decreased
jaw
opening
DynaSplint
(trismus)
Worn
b
Thera-‐bite
day,
mu
piece
Same
a
each
pt
Nasal
regurgitation
Strengthen
w/CPAP
Wear
w
machine
Decreased
intraoral
pressure
for
VCT
(Velopharyngeal
Pt
inhal
sucking
and
bolus
propulsion
Closure
Test)
constan
resistan
EMST
(see
be
Decreased
tongue
base
Masako
Maneuver
Place
to
retraction
swallow
Weak
pharyngeal
constrictors
Valsalva
*Widget:
Not
a
technical
term
Tape
2
tongue
depressors
tog
insert
desired
number
of
other
depressors
to
create
resistance
Example
(using
rubber
bands,
but
tape
work
just
as
well):
SpeechRamblings.weebly.com
egaielssto(uismepdruorvinegpmerefoarlm) ance during meals)
ws
gum
on
a
piece
of
floss,
maintaining
its
Munching
mastication
will
n
“ball”
form
result
in
elongated
piece
dget
in
reps
or
hold
by
pts
for
increasing
amounts
of
time
every
Progressively
stretches
jaw
ultiple
times
a
day;
has
custom
mouth
as
DynaSplint
but
not
custom-‐made
for
t
while
producing
various
phonemes
Positive
airway
pressure
provides
resistance
les
deeply
then
exhale
thru
straw
at
Straw
at
least
1
cm
diameter;
nt
pace
for
as
long
as
possible
against
normal
low
limit
is
against
5
nce
of
12
cm
water
pressure
cm
of
water
for
5
secs
elow)
Enhances
levator
veli
palatini
ongue
btwn
teeth
or
on
alveolar
ridge
and
Anteriorly
stabilizing
tongues
w
(NOT
with
bolus);
may
need
to
pair
with
allows
for
greater
a
for
maximum
benefit
recruitment
on
pharyngeal
constrictors,
bringing
them
anteriorly
to
meet
weakened
tongue
base
gether
(use
medical/surgical
tape,
which
is
easily
accessible)
and
for
when
pt
tries
to
close
the
ends
Rehabilitation ExercisCeosm(upseenosuattsoidryeSotrfamteeg
Laryngeal
Decreased
laryngeal
elevation
Shaker
(head-‐lifting)
Lay
in
s
Exercises
sustain
Pharyngeal
residue
cycles
t
mini
he
Decreased
epiglottic
retroversion
Valsalva
Maneuver
Effortfu
Mendelson
Maneuver
Decreased
approximation
of
Palpate
arytenoids
to
epiglottis
EMST
(Expiratory
suspend
Muscle
Strength
Decreased
PES
opening
Training)
Pt
has
1
mouthp
Penetration/aspiration
Vocal
adduction
pressur
exercises
Maximu
heard,
r
sets;
5
s
If
no
fan
Link
fin
togethe
Vocal
Function
Perform
Exercises
possible
togethe
SpeechRamblings.weebly.com
egaielssto(uismepdruorvinegpmerefoarlm) ance during meals)
supine
position
and
lift
head
to
look
at
toes;
Simple
isometric
exercise
for
1
minute,
rest
1
minute,
repeat
(3
facilitates
PES
opening
by
total);
also
30
reps
of
brief
head-‐lifts
(like
a
increasing
anterior/superior
ead
sit-‐up)
excursion
of
larynx
(and
possible
decreased
resistance
of
cricopharyngeus)
ul
(hard)
swallow
These
compensatory
e
hyoid/thyroid
notch
and
hold
larynx
strategies
can
be
performed
ded
for
2
secs
(as
if
holding
breath)
w/o
bolus
for
long-‐term
strengthening
effects
1)
nose
clip
to
eliminate
nasal
airflow;
2)
Increasing
expiratory
lung
piece
with
tight
labial
seal;
3)
hand
volume/force
1)
increases
re
on
cheeks
to
eliminate
pocketing
air
hyolaryngeal
displacement;
2)
improves
glottic
closure;
3)
um
exhale
into
mouthpiece
until
air
rush
is
creates
higher
airflow,
which
rest
30-‐60
secs
btwn
trials
and
2
min
btwn
increases
sensation
of
sets
of
5
breaths,
5
days/wk
tongue/oropharynx;
4)
increase
afferent
input
to
ncy
mouthpiece/device,
use
a
balloon!
cough
centers/adductors
ngers
at
chest
level
and
push
hands
Increase
movement
of
er
or
pull
upward
on
seat
weakened
VF
or
facilitate
adduction
of
functioning
VF;
Beware
w/cardiac
pts
(may
increase
vascular
pressure)
m
glides
and
sustained
pitches
as
softly
as
e
w/slightly
nasalized
tone;
push
palms
er
to
increase
effortful
closure