Thickened liquids are one of the most common recommendations in dysphagia management—but are they always the safest option?In this episode of Speech Talk, we examine the complexities of thickened liquids in dysphagia management, sharing personal experiences and case studies. We discuss misconce…
This episode delves into the intricacies of Huntington's disease, derived from a recent patient encounter that underscored the challenges faced by speech-language pathologists. We provide a historical overview, tracing the condition back to George Huntington's 1872 paper, and discuss its neurodegen…
In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva dive into cervical osteophytes (aka bone spurs in the neck) and how they can mechanically impact swallowing. We break down what osteophytes are, why they form, and how they can present just like “typical” dysphagia — globus, coughing, choking, wet vocal…
In this episode, co-hosts Emily and Eva discuss the vital role of prehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients, emphasizing its importance for improving patient outcomes. They highlight the need for standardized protocols and share alarming statistics on swallowing dysfunction post-treatment. …
This week on Speech Talk, we’re breaking down two of our favorite fast and evidence-backed dysphagia screeners: the TOMASS and the Yale Swallow Protocol. If you’ve ever been buried in a busy SNF day and wished for a quick but...
DOSS It Matter? (Spoiler: Yes.) In this episode, Emily and Eva explore the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS), an assessment tool for quantifying swallowing disorders. They discuss the history and importance of the DOSS in bringing objectivity and consistency to dysphagia evaluations, high…
In this episode, I, Eva, alongside co-host Emily, discuss the often-overlooked topic of puree diets in speech therapy. Wondering- Should food be pretty? Does food presentation help with patients' perceptions of unappetizing puree food and share insights from a study revealing that molded puree enha…
In this episode, Eva and Emily discuss the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), a vital dysphagia screener for adults that assesses swallowing difficulties through patient self-reports. They highlight the importance of interpreting scores accurately, particularly in identifying clinically significant i…
In this episode of Speech Talk , Eva and Emily explore how GERD and dysphagia impact on swallowing, nutrition, and patient care in skilled nursing facilities. Learn how to recognize GERD-related symptoms, advocate for proper ...
What does your oral mech exam really tell you? In this episode of Speech Talk, Eva and Emily get down and dirty (with tongue depressors, not drama) and explore why the phrase 'say ahh' is so iconic.They cover what is a normal oral cavity for our geri crowd, how to link findings to clinical hypo…
To PEG or not to PEG? In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva confront the clinical gray zones around percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placements in older adults.They unpack what PEG tubes actually do (and don’t do), their potential impact on malnutrition and aspiration pneu…
Today, we talk about how dentures impact dysphagia- if we can answer Where Are My Teeth? In this episode of Speech Talk, we explore the critical role dentures play in the swallowing abilities of edentulous patients. We begin by discussing the prevalence of dentures among older adults and the connec…