Dysphagia in Persons with Dementia: The Dual Diagnosis Challenge
“While there is life, we must provide quality of life.” Paul Raia Swallowing and cognition have always been considered two major contributors to quality of life. It's interesting to note, for example, when someone asks for directions, instructions are often provided by using favorite restaurants as landmarks. It is customary for many people spend significant amounts of time and effort accessing executive functions to plan, organize, and cook daily meals as well as to prepare for special occasions and holidays. The enjoyment experienced by sharing a meal with friends and family members is positively anticipated. The evaluation of functional and quality of life outcomes continues to emerge as a vital component of state-of-the-art health care. Specific to the field of medical speech-language pathology, any discussions pertaining to dementia and/or dysphagia bring quality of life issues to the forefront. Dysphagia as a sequelae of dementia is understood to have significant negative impacts on quality of life due to the challenges associated with its management in persons with progressive, degenerative neuropathology and resulting cognitive, sensory, and motor decline.