Swallowing Disorders in Newborn and Small Children

The literature recognizes the important role of the Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) in the treatment of communication and swallowing disorders in children with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). However there is also a need to emphasize the importance of specialist SLP input across the lifespan of people with ID, and to recognize the specific, ongoing and changing communication and swallowing needs of adults with ID as they get older.

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Servicing the Senior Swallow: A Family-Centered Private Practice Model of Service Delivery

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-20-00134 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yvette M. McCoy

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Medical Model ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Swallowing Disorders ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Care Needs ◽

Skilled Nursing ◽

Person Centered Care ◽

Centered Care ◽

Traditional Medical Model

Purpose Person-centered care shifts the focus of treatment away from the traditional medical model and moves toward personal choice and autonomy for people receiving health services. Older adults remain a priority for person-centered care because they are more likely to have complex care needs than younger individuals. Even more specifically, the assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders are often thought of in terms of setting-specific (i.e., acute care, skilled nursing, home health, etc.), but the management of dysphagia in older adults should be considered as a continuum of care from the intensive care unit to the outpatient multidisciplinary clinic. In order to establish a framework for the management of swallowing in older adults, clinicians must work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team using current evidence to guide clinical practice. Private practitioners must think critically not only about the interplay between the components of the evidence-based practice treatment triad but also about the broader impact of dysphagia on caregivers and families. The physical health and quality of life of both the caregiver and the person receiving care are interdependent. Conclusion Effective treatment includes consideration of not only the patient but also others, as caregivers play an important role in the recovery process of the patient with swallowing disorders.

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