HOME CARERS and DYSPHAGIA MANAGEMENT - THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SWALLOWING

DIFFICULTIES (Dysphagia)

Like breathing, swallowing is a reflex and is essential to

everyday life. Humans swallow between 500 to 900 times a

day: around three times an hour during sleep, once per minute

while awake and even more often during meals. We swallow

food, liquids, medicine and saliva.

With each swallow we hold our breath for around one

second, to make sure the food or drink travels down the

correct tube to the stomach rather than the lungs.

Swallowing uses 26 muscles and many nerves to coordinate the split-

second timing needed to safely swallow. Mistimed

movements can lead to food or drink ‘going down the wrong way’’.

PREVALENCE

Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia)  affect up to 1 in 25 adults.

As we age or if we have disability, the swallowing reflex can

be affected, due to a number of conditions such as illness,

difficulties present at birth, damage to the brain or structures of the head and neck.

According to Speech Pathology Australia, 50 percent of

stroke survivors and 84 percent of people with dementia

experience Dysphagia. Sixty-nine per cent of people with

Parkinson’s disease will have swallowing difficulties, as will

25 per cent of those with Multiple Sclerosis.

Chewing and swallowing problems affect 30-50 percent of residents in

aged-care facilities and those with a disability, with choking

being one of the highest causes of preventable death.

IMPACT

The impact of having a swallowing problem is far reaching, not

only for the person themselves but for their family and friends.

Eating and drinking is an important part of everyday life; it’s

not only essential for life, but should be an enjoyable pastime

with many social activities happening around mealtimes.

Yet, for an average of around eight percent of the population,

this simple act of eating and drinking can be uncomfortable,

stressful, isolating and frustrating. Swallowing problems can

result in life threatening medical problems such as

pneumonia, choking, poor nutrition and dehydration if left

unmanaged. Sometimes this problem is so severe that regular

food and drink can become a life-threatening choking risk.

While Australians are alert to the choking risks for small

children, few know the danger of choking on food is 7 times

greater for people aged over 65 years and those with specific

disabilities, than those aged 1-4 years.

DYSPHAGIA CARE PLAN

If the person suffering from a swallowing problem has been

advised that they can’t have some types or consistencies of

food and drink, this can make eating and drinking in front of

friends and family difficult and embarrassing. These problems

can lead to anxiety, depression, social isolation as well as the

health concerns mentioned above.

A Dysphagia care plan supports both the carer and sufferer to enable safe eating and drinking.

The good news is that education about Dysphagia and its

management empowers carers and family members to

understand ways of eating and drinking that can reduce or

remove these problems.

IDDSI

The wonderful work of the International Dysphagia Diet

Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) outlines the various levels of

food and liquid modifications recommended for those with

Dysphagia.

 Our online Safe Swallowing and Mealtime Management Course explains these dietary guidelines and how to best manage a swallowing difficulty.

https://www.safeswallowing.com.au/Take the Course