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What if a microphone and a few sensors placed on the neck could detect dysphagia; without access to FEES or videofluoroscopy, maybe even without a dysphagia specialist in the room? In this episode, we sit down with Prof. Ervin Sejdic , a biomedical engineer at the university of Toronto, whose research is changing the way we think about dysphagia assessment. Ervin leads work on High-Resolution Cervical Auscultation (HRCA) – a method that captures the sounds and vibrations of swallowing using sens...
Dysphagia is an under-recognised but clinically important complication following cardiac surgery. In this episode, Prof. Cara Donohue discusses why dysphagia can occur despite surgery being anatomically distant from the swallowing mechanism. We explore the complexities of dysphagia in patients post cardiac surgery, highlighting risk factors, prevalence, assessment methods, and potential interventions. Cara shares her research findings and clinical perspectives, emphasising the importance of earl...
Preparing safe, enjoyable meals for people with dysphagia can be challenging but it does not have to mean sacrificing enjoyment of food, variety, and social connection. How can clinicians and caregivers help ensure meals remain safe and enjoyable? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Simone Howells from Griffith University, Australia, about the second edition of Beyond the Blender: Dysphagia Made Easier ; a freely available cookbook featuring 30 recipes organised according to IDDSI Levels 2–6. We ...
Meta-analyses are powerful tools, but they can be challenging to interpret. In this episode, we explore how dysphagia clinicians can better understand and critically evaluate meta-analyses to support evidence-informed practice. We are joined by Prof. Kendrea Garand to talk about the article “ How to Interpret and Evaluate a Meta-Analysis in the Field of Speech and Language Therapy: A Tutorial for Clinicians. ” We discuss: What meta-analyses are and why they matter for dysphagia clinicians How to...
In this episode, we talk to Dr. Raele Loy , a Speech and Language Therapist and research scientist at the Center for Health Disparities Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We discuss a critical but often overlooked aspect of dysphagia care: health equity, or the lack thereof. Raele discusses what sparked her interest in health equity, and explains what ‘health disparities’ mean in clinical practice and research today. She discusses what is currently known about disparities in dyspha...
Behind the tremor in Parkinson’s disease lies a complex neurodegenerative process that affects far more than movement. In this conversation, we are joined by Prof. emer. Werner Poewe, neurologist and one of the world’s leading experts in Parkinson’s disease. He unpacks the evolving understanding of Parkinson’s disease, from James Parkinson’s first observations to today’s insights into pathology, prodromal symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. With a special focus on swallowing and dysphagia, we ex...
Button batteries may be small, but their impact can be devastating. In this episode, we speak with Prof. Kris Jatana about the serious and often hidden dangers of button battery ingestion in children. Found in everyday household items, these small batteries can cause severe injuries to the esophagus and surrounding structures within hours of ingestion. Kris explains what button batteries are, how they cause injury when swallowed, and why quick recognition and management are critical. We discuss ...
What is it like to live with dysphagia due to ineffective esophageal motility (IEM)? In this episode, Adrienne shares her personal journey: from first noticing symptoms, through the path to diagnosis, and how the condition has evolved over time. We explore the deep impact of IEM on eating, drinking, social life, and quality of life. Adrienne talks about what it is like to have an invisible disease, the struggles of explaining the condition to family and friends, the treatments and strategies s...
Prof. Taher Omari , Physiologist, Principal Research Fellow and lead of the Swallowing Research Group at Flinders University in Adelaide (Australia) joins us to share insights on the new Leuven Consensus . This research project sets out recommendations for pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) disorders using high-resolution manometry with impedance (P-HRM-I). Taher explains: the principles of P-HRM-I how the consensus was developed the diagnostic procedure when using P-HRM-I what it m...
In this episode, we’re joined by Prof. Kathryn Steadman , who gave an excellent presentation at last year’s European Society for Swallowing Disorders conference in Münster, Germany. Her talk explored the question: Does swallowing tablets with an IDDSI Level 4 gel impact drug absorption? Because this topic isn’t discussed much – and Kathryn brings a lot of expertise as a pharmacist – we’re happy to have her with us to talk about safe and effective medication intake for people with dysphagia. Topi...
There are many rare diseases, where dysphagia can manifest. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Bendix Labeit , neurology physician and clinical scientist at University Hospital Düsseldorf in Germany to talk about dysphagia in one of these rare diseases: myositis. Together, we discuss: What is myositis, and what are its different forms? How does dysphagia manifest in people with myositis? What does the diagnostic process look like, including an algorithm where dysphagia plays a key role? What ...
In this episode, we speak with Prof. Shaun Treweek about why so much health research still falls short. Shaun argues that big parts of health research is “bad” and does not bring the value to the evidence-base we need. As a leading expert in trials methodology he explains how we can change that and how we can conduct “good” research for our patients. Other topics we cover What leads to “bad” studies and eventually research waste The gender health gap and what a Pink Floyd lyric has to do with it...
Curious about one of the gold standards in swallowing assessment? Join us for an insightful discussion about Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) with our guest Prof. Heather Starmer . This episode offers valuable perspectives for both those new to FEES and those looking to enhance their current practice, as Heather shares practical knowledge gained from years in the field. We explore the sometimes overlooked aspects of FEES preparation, consider how FEES and videofluoroscopy can ...
This is not a regular episode, but we are just as excited to share it with you. We were contacted by Tabby, the science editor of Science at One , a program on IC Radio at Imperial College London. She invited us for an interview as part of a radio feature on dysphagia. It was our pleasure to be part of this project alongside David, who is living with dysphagia, and Prof. Alexandros Stratakos, who, together with his team, is developing 3D-printed food for people with dysphagia. Huge thanks to Tab...
How do ENT specialists balance life-saving treatments with preserving essential functions like swallowing? In this episode we are joined by Prof. Laura Baijens , a leading expert in the field of laryngology and head and neck oncology surgery from the Netherlands. Laura has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people with dysphagia. We talk about the challenges ENT specialists face when treating head and neck cancer, the collaboration between ENT specialists and dysphagia clinicians, an...
Dysphagia impacts countless individuals, and whether you’re a clinician, a student, or a researcher, you’re part of the collective effort to understand and address this complex condition. But are we all speaking the same language when it comes to defining dysphagia? Surprisingly, the field still lacks a unified definition. In this episode, we welcome three leading experts, Prof. Debra Suiter, Prof. Giselle Carnaby, and Dr. Martin Brodsky, who are working to establish a clear and consensus-based ...
In this episode, we build on our previous one by exploring the practical, clinical side of pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) as a treatment for people with dysphagia. This time we spoke to Rachel Coates, an experienced dysphagia clinician from Ireland who incorporates PES into her daily practice. Rachel shares her insights into how PES works, the benefits and challenges of using this treatment, and her advice for clinicians considering incorporating PES into their practice. If you are not ...
We are excited to share this episode about pharyngeal electrical stimulation with you. Our guest is Shaheen Hamdy, Professor of Neurogastroenterology at the University of Manchester in the UK. In addition to his academic role, he is the co-founder and chief scientific officer of Phagenesis, the company behind Phagenyx – a treatment for dysphagia using pharyngeal electrical stimulation. This approach is one of the most promising advancements in the field of dysphagia treatment today. Join us as S...
This is part two of our conversation with Prof. Joan Arvedson. In our last episode, we laid the foundation for understanding feeding and swallowing. In this episode, Joan will share her insights on the treatment approaches for infants with feeding and swallowing difficulties, and we explore the essential role that parents play in the therapeutic process. We also talk about some fundamental principles that we as clinicians should consider—principles that apply not just to the pediatric population...
Drinking is one of the very first activities that newborns engage in, not only shaping their daily routine but also fostering crucial communication and interaction between them and their caregivers. Developing skills such as sucking, swallowing, and coordinating these with breathing is vital, but what happens when a baby struggles with these essential tasks? We were thrilled to speak with Prof. Joan Arvedson, a leading expert in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. In our conversation, sh...
Did you know that dysphagia can occur not only in people with head and neck cancer, but also in people with cancers outside the anatomical swallowing regions? This is an area that is often overlooked in clinical practice and is also an under-researched topic. To shed light on this important issue, we interviewed Prof. Ciarán Kenny from Trinity College Dublin. In his PhD research, Ciarán investigated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and predictors of dysphagia in people with cancer outsi...
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 using the Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST), which she and her colleagues developed. Literature that we discuss: Hutcheson et a...
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 a solid assessment and an effective intervention. Get ready for a trip from the brain to the swallowing muscles and join us as w...
Pediatric Feeding Specialist Dr. Pamela Dodrill delves into the definition and conceptual framework of pediatric feeding disorders, highlighting the need for universal terminology and advocacy. She describes her work in the NICU, differentiating it from other settings, detailing assessment pathways, and explaining treatment approaches like modifying liquid delivery. The episode concludes with her vision for future research, emphasizing the importance of feeding outcomes in this rapidly evolving field.
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 IDDSI. We have now had the pleasure to talk to Peter Lam (chair person and chief-executive officer) f...
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 dysphagia clinicians working with our patients. We hope you will join us on a journey through the moral compass of medical decis...
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 changed over the years. She also provides great ideas of how we can best implement skill tr...
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 pulmonologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, to join us for an episode. We asked him about potential differences between aspiration pneumonia and ‘general’ pneumonia, r...
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 of the lesion matter at all? We had lots of questions for Janina and we were delighted that she joined us to share both her research findings on stroke and her clinical expertise as an SLT. Furt...
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 relevance of training airway protection in dysphagia management, the available evidence base, and limitations of both EMST and smT...
