Okay, this might sound like a trick question, but…What is dysphagia?

This single question might be the most “swallow your pride” kind of question for medical SLPs yet…

Because, believe it or not, we have yet to establish a standardized definition of dysphagia!

Which is exactly why Martin B. Brodsky Ph.D., Sc.M., CCC-SLP, F-ASHA, and Debra Suiter PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S are putting together a conference called “Defining Dysphagia: In Search of a Unified Definition for the Aging Population” and are joining me on this week’s episode of the Swallow Your Pride Podcast to talk about it!

Dr. Brodksy and Dr. Suiter lay out the facts, questions, and barriers surrounding dysphagia definitions and how they impact clinical practice, research, and patient care.

From the discrepancies between patient complaints and clinical definitions to the impacts that dysphagia has on coding and reimbursement, this single word has yet to reach a universal interpretation.

The Defining Dysphagia conference is happening September 13th - 15th, and you can register now at https://syppodcast.com/definingdysphagia

Timestamps:

Importance of Consensus Definition (00:28:32)
Speaker Lineup for Saturday (00:30:58)
Telehealth in Dysphagia Treatment (00:31:09)
Neurodegenerative Diseases Focus (00:32:12)
Clinical Relevance of Speakers (00:33:30)
Speakers' Role in Delphi Process (00:34:12)
Conference Structure and CEUs (00:36:35)
Multidisciplinary Nature of Conference (00:39:14)
Invitation to Attend (00:40:36)
Conference Website Information (00:41:16)

The post 337 – That’s Not What Dysphagia Means: The Search for a Standardized Definition of One of the Most Important Words in Our Field – Dr. Martin Brodsky and Dr. Debra Suiter appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

As an SLP, you’re most likely to see a patient when they’re medically stable…but what if you could also be there from the start of their medical emergency?

What if you were part of the team who hops in the ambulance, assesses how critical someone’s condition is, and provides the first attempt in stablizing their health until you can get them to the hospital?

That’s what Eleanor Smyser, M.S., CCC-SLP, A-EMT does!

Eleanor is both an advanced emergency medical technician (EMT) and medical SLP, and she’s here today to share her experiences and how her training as an EMT has crossed over into her life as an SLP - and vice versa!

Join us as we discuss…

the importance of understanding airway management and patient stability
the value of interdisciplinary collaboration
Elanor’s personal story about her son's emergency, highlighting the critical role of emergency medical services (EMS).
how combining SLP and EMS expertise can enhance patient care and outcomes
a call for SLPs to broaden their medical knowledge.

Tune in and share your thoughts!

Get the show notes at https://syppodcast.com/336

Timestamps

Eleanor's Journey into EMS (00:02:52)
First Experience in EMS (00:03:53)
Training During COVID (00:04:08)
EMT Training Insights (00:05:42)
Integration of EMT Knowledge into SLP Practice (00:06:33)
Importance of Patient Stability (00:07:29)
Holistic Patient Care Perspective (00:09:02)
Data Points for Decision Making (00:11:22)
Airway Management Equipment Overview (00:13:29)
Basic Airway Devices (00:14:21)
Super Melodic Airway Devices (00:15:13)
Introduction to Supergalactic Airways (00:17:24)
Traditional Intubation Methods (00:18:15)
Emergency Cricothyrotomy (00:19:21)
Personal Experience with Son's Emergency (00:19:29)
Calmness in Crisis (00:21:01)
Importance of Familiarity in Emergency Services (00:21:53)
Lessons Learned from Emergency Situations (00:22:38)
Building Relationships with EMS (00:23:11)
Understanding Patient Emergencies (00:25:13)
Teamwork in High-Stakes Situations (00:27:22)
Communication Skills from EMS Experience (00:30:29)
Importance of SLPs in Medical Teams (00:32:26)
Encouragement for SLPs to Explore EMS (00:34:01)
Eleanor's Sabbatical and Work Schedule (00:35:08)
Volunteer Shifts and Work-Life Balance (00:36:04)

The post 336 – SLP by day, EMT by night: How Emergency Medical Tech Training Enhanced This SLP’s Practice appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

Today, we're featuring Part 2 of an episode of the Speeching it Real podcast, where host Christy Ubieta asks Theresa Richard, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S all the good questions. THIS is where you get to learn more about our beloved Swallow Your Pride Podcast and discover things like…. how Theresa almost didn’t become an SLP why […]

The post 335 -From Fashion to FEES to PhD: Theresa Richard’s origin story – Part 2 appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

This week's episode of the Swallow Your Pride Podcast will be a little different… It's a podcast within a podcast. We'll call it…podception. Today, we're featuring an episode of the Speeching it Real podcast, where host Christy Ubieta asks Theresa Richard, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S all the good questions. THIS is where you get to learn […]

The post 334 – From Fashion to FEES to PhD: Theresa Richard’s Origin Story appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

You know how dentists have those intraoral cameras that let patients see what’s going on in their mouth?

What if SLPs could use those as part of their dysphagia assessment?

Or as part of their biofeedback during therapy to check for residue and to see if certain compensatory strategies work? Just imagine quickly peeking into a patient’s mouth with an angled intraoral camera and finding bread in the valleculae from the patient’s last meal (which was two hours ago)!

Turns out we can!

James Curtis, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Ann Miles, PhD, are two SLPs and researchers who are exploring this idea and spill all the beans with us in this week’s episode of The Swallow Your Pride Podcast!

Join James and Anna as they discuss the intraoral camera and…

The benefits of adding it to our dysphagia assessments
Potential applications in therapy and patient education
The pioneering work of Jose Vergara’s team in Brazil
Technical challenges
Patient tolerance
Current and future research
Access to this instrument

Tune in and give a shout-out to your local dentist for inspiring this idea!

TIMESTAMPS:

Initial exploration of intraoral cameras (00:05:42)
Clinical application of intraoral cameras (00:10:44)
Advantages and limitations of intraoral cameras (00:12:51)
Procedure for using intraoral cameras (00:15:05)
Challenges with intraoral cameras (00:19:01)
Patient Positioning and Maneuvering (00:20:05)
Challenges and Skills of Rigid Exam vs. Flexible Scope (00:20:56)
Advantages of Intraoral Cameras (00:21:10)
Importance of Post-Swallow Images and Video Clips (00:22:28)
Sensitivity and Reliability of Intraoral Cameras (00:24:30)
Comparative Research and Reproducibility (00:26:02)
Limitations and Need for More Research (00:28:25)
Cost and Infection Control Considerations (00:32:15)
Integration into Clinical Protocols (00:33:42)
Future Research and Implementation Studies (00:37:44)
Intraoral Camera Use in New Zealand (00:40:09)
Availability and Cost of Intraoral Cameras (00:40:56)
Patient Populations for Intraoral Camera Use (00:41:38)
Challenges and Benefits of Rigid Endoscopy (00:44:23)

The post 333 – Can Intraoral Cameras Improve Dysphagia Management? Let’s Zoom In… appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

“I’m looking for a guy in finance…”

Okay, while that’s the start of a recent viral song, I spoke with an SLP who *was* in finance.

Fred Stahl is a second-career medical SLP who shares how he went from hedge fund management to voice and dysphagia management for head and neck cancer survivors.

Together we discuss why he left finance for speech pathology, his learning experience, his involvement in a research study on swallowing (and the unexpected findings), and the incredibly dynamic nature of our field. From embracing opportunities to learning from failures, Fred’s insight is both eye-opening and incredibly motivating!

Tune in and get inspired.

Get show notes here: https://syppodcast.com/332

Fred Stal is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist. He completed his initial training and clinical fellowship through Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital. Currently, Fred works in the outpatient setting as well as per diem in the acute care setting. He recently published research as a co-author with the NYU Swallowing Research Lab, which was presented by the incredible lead author at the 2024 Dysphagia Research Society conference in Puerto Rico. His main areas of clinical interest include dysphagia management, upper airway disorders, and most of all… all things related to the head and neck cancer population.

Research Link mentioned: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9513300/

Timestamps:

Fred's Journey into Speech-Language Pathology (00:01:45)
Fred's Clinical Experience and Career Path (00:02:29)
Passion for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (00:05:47)
Learning and Implementing New Techniques (00:07:59)
Specialized Field within Speech-Language Pathology (00:08:46)
Manual Therapy and Lymphedema in Head and Neck Patients (00:11:36)
Presentation at ASHA and Case Studies (00:13:47)
Continuous Learning and Adapting in the Field (00:16:41)
The research publication (00:18:02)
Learning from failures (00:21:26)
Instrumental assessment and patient outcomes (00:25:28)
Challenges in patient recovery (00:28:20)
Value of long-term patient relationships (00:31:38)
Advocacy and improvement in skilled nursing facilities (00:33:30)
The power of basic tools in dysphagia therapy (00:34:17)
Wada testing and awake craniotomy (00:35:15)
Exploring new areas in speech pathology (00:36:16)

The post 332 – From Hedge Funds to Medical: Fred Stal’s Unique Journey appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

The Medical SLP version of a “Battle of the Bands” would be, without a doubt, a “Battle of the Instrumentals.”

As in, which is better: MBS or FEES?

The MBS has historically been viewed as the “gold standard” of instrumentals, but a LOT more research has come out about FEES since its introduction into the dysphagia world.

And Dr. Jessica Pisegna is here to talk about it in this week’s episode of The Swallow Your Pride Podcast!

Dr. Pesegna is the section chief at Boston Medical Center of the voice and swallowing center and has worked closely with the one and only Dr. Susan Langmore.

In this episode, we cover:

-When Dr. Pesegna chooses FEES, MBS, or BOTH simultanously.
-What her latest research found when it comes to absent or reduced epiglottic inversion on FEES and what it can mean
-The importance of the brand and color of food dye
-Why FEES should be used in acute care
-The use of residue rating scales and the consistency of clinician ratings.
-Laryngeal sensory testing
-The ice chip protocol and the Frazier Free Water Protocol
-The reliability of Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) on FEES.

Prep your barium and get your scopes out, because this episode will leave you motivated to step up your game in the world of instrumental swallow studies!

Get the show notes full of references here:
https://syppodcast.com/331

TIMESTAMPS:

Simultaneous FEES and Video Fluoroscopy (00:03:40)
Research Findings (00:06:18)
Sensitivity of FEES (00:10:00)
FEES in Acute Care (00:14:49)
Triage Protocol (00:16:17)
Simultaneous FEES and Video Fluoroscopy (00:16:45)
Turnaround Time for FEES (00:17:33)
Rating Scales for Residue (00:18:12)
Assessing Reliability Between Clinicians (00:19:48)
New Zealand Secretion Scale (00:22:15)
Global Picture of Patient Care (00:23:44)
Management of Secretions in Acute Care (00:24:39)
Laryngeal Sensory Testing (00:25:17)
Ice Chip Protocol (00:28:55)
FEES and PPIs Ratings (00:35:10)
Challenges and Considerations in Using PAS on FEES (00:38:34)
Reliability of Digest FEES (00:40:26)

The post 331 – MBS vs FEES: Time to Dig Deeper into Instrumental Swallow Studies with Dr. Jessica Pisegna appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

If you want to serve the head and neck cancer population or HOPE to one day…you do NOT want to miss this episode!

Jennifer Larssen, an SLP at the University of South Florida, shares her experiences in developing innovative programs for head and neck surgery patients. She shares innovative programs and tools like…

✅A groundbreaking laryngeal speaking device for those who struggle with the traditional electrolarynx.
✅A self-dilation program for patients with laryngectomy and/or radiation to the neck.
✅A TEP clinic.
✅Support groups - include one for women who have undergone a laryngectomy.
✅Social events (like a trip to Busch Gardens and makeup lessons post-surgery and/or radiation)

Prepare to feel inspired!

Download the show notes: https://syppodcast.com/330

TIMESTAMPS:

Introduction (00:00:00)
Program Development at USF (00:00:42)
Tracheoesophageal Prostheses and TEP Clinics (00:02:51)
Larynx Demo Days (00:03:09)
Competencies in TEP Changes (00:04:28)
Self-Dilation Program (00:06:13)
Advocating to Administration (00:07:56)
Head and Neck Cancer Community Group (00:09:26)
Funding and Resources (00:12:21)
Women's Retreat (00:13:06)
Clinical Pathway and Rehabilitation (00:16:38)
Feeding Tube Removal (00:19:32)
Collaboration with Dietitian (00:20:11)
Patient Observation (00:20:54)
Transitional Care Program (00:21:44)
Fluoro MS Suite (00:23:33)
Becoming an X-Ray Tech (00:25:09)
Supportive Team at USF (00:28:11)
Human Element in Healthcare (00:30:43)

The post 330 – Makeup Lessons, TEP Clinics, Self-Dilation Programs, and More: Innovative Services for the Head and Neck Cancer Population appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.