Our Speech Pathologist:

Speech Pathologists are trained to complete swallow assessments with and provide recommendations to people with dysphagia. Dysphagia is a term used to describe difficulty swallowing. Swallowing difficulties are often caused by physiological or anatomical changes to the head and neck.

How is the Swallow Assessment performed:

Swallow assessments are completed during the observation of a persons eating and drinking. Case history, goals of care and pre-assessment clinical observations such as cranial nerve function will inform the swallow assessment. These factors will also influence the post-assessment recommendations and planning, as each person’s individual situation is as different as their swallow function.

Support Staff and Family involvement:

Within the context of the NDIS and DSOA, care teams are often involved in swallow assessments. This is primarily because of the physical support that some people require to eat and drink. However, care teams are also often required to provide prompting and support to client’s with Intellectual impairments that may not understand the risks associated with their dysphagia.

Collectively the recommendations provided following a swallow assessment must align with participant goals, maximise swallow safety and consider the broader context of the meal to avoid potential risks.

Education:

The Speech Pathologist performing the assessment and completing the Mealtime Management plan and recommendations will provide education and training to support staff and family assisting with mealtimes. Each individual will have different mealtime recommendations and it’s important staff are well prepared to support the client.