Dysphagia Interventions

Question 1

What are some compensatory interventions for managing dysphagia?

Answer 1

Postural adjustment
Diet/fluid texture modification
Feeding strategies (i.e. hand-over-hand, extra verbal cues, etc)
Swallowing maneuvers (supraglottic swallow, super-supraglottic, Mendelson, effortful swallow)
Environmental modifications
Controlled volume/adaptive equipment (e.g. safe straw, etc.)

Question 2

What are some rehabilitative interventions for dysphagia?

Answer 2

Muscular strengthening exercises (Masako for PPW, Shaker for supryahyoid/hyolaryngeal excusion), range of motion (ROM) exercises and specific swallowing maneuvers (effortful swallow, Mendelson, etc.), sEMG

Question 3

What are some alternate feeding routes in dysphagia management?

Answer 3

Enteral feeding (NG-, G-, PEG, J-tube) and parenteral feeding (vascular access)

Question 4

What are some surgical interventions in dysphagia management?

Answer 4

Surgical reconstruction (due to cancer, congenital deficits)
Laryngectomy
Cricopharyngeal myotomy/dilation (for cricopharyngeal bar) + excision of the diverticulum (both for Zenker’s diverticulum)
VF augmentation or medialization (for chronic aspiration)