Using your medical history, assessment findings, and our clinical expertise, we can assess risks for aspiration and the need for further instrumental assessments, referrals, and an individualized treatment program.

Depending on the clinical swallow and/or instrumental swallow assessment results, we create a customized plan to improve swallow function and/or prevent further atrophy.

Dystussia

Cough function can inhibit your ability to protect your airway from food and liquid and we utilize respiratory strengthening exercises as well as devices (e.g. EMST) to improve your lung strength.

Dysphonia

Vocal impairment can be a sign of impaired sensation and can result in the inability to feel if food or liquid is going into your airway. We may incorporate voice exercises and refer you to a laryngologist for potential interventions that can help.

Direct Swallow Therapy

We may ask you to bring food from home and work on strategies and/or exercises to improve swallow efficiency during a meal. We are also trained in the McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Program if that is the right model for your therapy needs.

Indirect Swallow Therapy

We may utilize lingual strengthening (e.g. IOPI) and pharyngeal strengthening (e.g. Ampcare Effective Swallow Protocol) devices and evidence based swallow exercises (e.g. effortful swallow, masako, shaker) to word on the individual throat meals that may be impacted, based on imaging.