NDIS Swallowing Assessments
Having difficulty swallowing (a condition known medically as “dysphagia”) is very challenging for anyone to deal with. Many people suffer and find it difficult to ingest food and water. If you are having difficulty swallowing, it might be necessary for you to undergo a swallowing assessment to identify the underlying cause.
At Connect2Care, we offer NDIS swallowing assessments. We find the problem and determine how it would be optimal to address this during our examinations.
Our services are suitable for older citizens and people living with disabilities. We can perform swallowing assessments wherever is most convenient for you, whether in a hospital, an aged care facility, or the comfort of your home.
Swallowing Assessment | NDIS Assessments | Connect2Care
Mealtimes are an important part of our daily routine, allowing us to meet our nutritional intake, socialise with others, and maintain our overall health and wellbeing. The skills required for eating (e.g., chewing and swallowing) are something many of us take for granted. For those living with a disability or medical condition, meals can be challenging, and they may present with what is known as dysphagia.
Various disabilities or medical conditions can cause dysphagia, which is characterised by difficulties swallowing food and/or fluids. This can result in medical complications (e.g., aspiration pneumonia), social isolation, and reduced nutritional intake. Signs and symptoms of dysphagia include (but are not limited to):
- Coughing, gagging or choking on food and/or fluids during mealtimes.
- Changes in vocal quality after food and/or fluids.
- Difficulties chewing food into manageable bite-sized pieces.
- Pain when eating or drinking.
- Regurgitation of food and/or drink or food coming out the nose during mealtimes.
Beyond mealtime assessments for dysphagia, our speech pathologists can work closely with our occupational therapists and dieticians to support those experiencing “fussy” eating and challenges with sensory stimuli during mealtimes. While everyone goes through a phase of preferring certain foods, there is reason for concern when this is occurring during every meal and health concerns arise (e.g. nutritional needs not being met) This may look like:
- Preference for foods of particular colour or texture.
- Food refusal.
- Gagging when eating or drinking
Speech pathologists can support individuals facing challenges during mealtime. At Connect2Care, our experienced speech pathologists provide mealtime assessments and therapy to support people to eat and drink safely, as well as ensure mealtimes are a positive experience. Our team supports both children and adults to safely participate during mealtimes and works closely with other health professionals (e.g., occupational therapists, dieticians) to ensure you reach your goals. Speech pathologists at Connect2Care can work independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team to create a mealtime management plan for NDIS participants to ensure they have safe and enjoyable meals.
Identifying the Causes of Swallowing Difficulties
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may be suffering from a medical condition called dysphagia. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for:
Weak throat muscles
Dementia
Poor muscle coordination
Stroke
Head injury
Parkinson’s disease
Cerebral palsy
Other factors can cause dysphagia, including diseases that affect the esophagus. That’s why it’s crucial to get a swallowing assessment from a trained professional so we can find the root cause.
What Is The Aim Of Our Swallowing Assessments?
At Connect2Care, our swallowing assessment aims to determine a person’s swallowing problem. We also determine the severity of the problem. After the diagnosis, we counsel the patient on the most appropriate intervention and care to treat the condition.
What To Expect During A Swallowing Assessment?
Following referral, our speech pathologists will likely obtain further information regarding the participants swallowing concerns. A visit will likely be organized, and this would ideally be in the usual environment for the participant’s mealtimes. The speech pathologist will request to observe them during a typical mealtime setup, they may ask the participant to wait until the speech pathologist arrives until the participant is provided their meal to ensure it is reflective of a typical mealtime. The speech pathologist will likely cover a comprehensive case history and obtain any documentation regarding previous swallowing intervention or relevant background information. The speech pathologist will likely ask questions regarding everyday routine and mealtime set ups and then complete an oro-motor examination with consent if appropriate. The oro-motor exam will require the participant to imitate movements required for swallowing for the speech pathologist to observe and assess. Following this, the speech pathologist will likely request to observe the participant in their usual environment and observe the set up and support required including independence, environment, positioning, food texture, fluid texture and equipment used. The speech pathologist will assess and may provide recommendations as well as onwards referrals to other specialists or multidisciplinary team members in order to best support the participant to ensure safety and enjoyment across mealtimes. They also ensure education and support is provided to the participant’s formal and informal supports to ensure long-term safety of the participant. The speech pathologist can provide a comprehensive swallow assessment report and mealtime management plan.
Why Choose Connect2Care for a Swallowing Assessment?
Our swallowing assessment examiners are gentle and sensitive to the personal beliefs of our clients and give only recommendations after considering various factors. This includes the influence of your cultural and religious beliefs.
How Can A Swallowing Assessment Benefit Me?
Dysphagia can lead to significant physical healthy implications such as choking, weight loss, aspiration pneumonia, and in serious cases, death. Swallowing assessments and provision of mealtime management plans can assist in mitigating risks of developing physical health concerns by providing recommendations and supports for safe mealtimes.
What Do Our Swallowing Assessments Do?
At Connect2Care, our swallowing assessment aims to determine a person’s swallowing problem. We
also determine the severity of the problem. After the diagnosis, we counsel the patient on the most
appropriate intervention and care to treat the condition. Each swallowing assessment may include the
following:
- diagnosing your swallowing disorder
- developing a prognosis for your improvement
- finding the safest, most efficient way for you to drink and eat
- discovering any interventions and supports that can help you
- further referrals to other services or professionals who can help you
- counselling, education, and training for you, your carers, and chosen healthcare providers
When Should You Do A Swallowing Assessment?
You may need to consider a swallowing assessment if you’re experiencing difficulties or pain while swallowing. This is especially true if you have experienced symptoms such as food sticking in your throat, any breathing difficulties, or even are at high risk for dysphagia due to certain medical conditions like stroke. Even without displaying any signs of dysphagia, there can still be the chance that aspiration could occur, and an examination should take place.
How Should I Prepare For A Swallowing Assessment?
Usually, a swallowing assessment doesn’t require extensive preparation. But in some cases, you may be asked to abstain from eating food or drinking beverages to ensure accuracy. You may also be asked to prepare a record of difficulties you’ve experienced eating, drinking, or breathing before the exam, which can be discussed before the evaluation.
How Can I Learn More About Dysphagia?
Connect2Care provides education sessions for external service providers, support staff or for individuals wanting to learn more around what dysphagia is and how best to support an individual with dysphagia. Please contact our support to learn more about our education sessions.
