Swallowing Screen for Dysphagia: What RDNs Need to Know

Dysphagia, or swallowing dysfunction, affects up to 13% of hospitalized inpatients, 60% of nursing homes residents, and 35% of older adults living in the community. Early identification and intervention for dysphagia are critical to reduce the likelihood of aspiration pneumonia, maintain appropriate nutrition/hydration, and administer medicine. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) have tasked speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to work collaboratively with other allied health professionals to ensure that best practices and timely dysphagia care are being implemented in all clinical settings. In the example to be presented of dysphagia care, SLPs receive a referral from the patient's physician, collaborate with nursing, to ensure safe swallowing strategies are being implemented. A key aspect of this presentation will be providing participants with a clinical toolbox containing commonly utilized and validated screening tools for dysphagia that can be implemented in a wide array of clinical settings.

CPE Level: Level 2 (intermediate knowledge/experience)
CPEU: 1.5

Performance Indicators

• 8.2.1 Engages in educational activities to maintain knowledge and to obtain new knowledge of diseases and clinical conditions.
• 10.2.13 Analyzes diagnostic test results (e.g., fluoroscopy, swallowing evaluation, enteral feeding tube placement) to inform nutrition diagnoses.
• 10.1.2 Conducts nutrition screening to identify client/patient risks and levels of criticality, and to direct services.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the causes, signs and symptoms of dysphagia
• Describe the clinical and instrumental assessment of dysphagia evaluation
• Select an appropriate dysphagia screening tool for various clinical populations

Moderator

• Patricia M. Grace-Farfaglia, MBA, PhD, RDN, FAND

Speakers

• Marissa A. Barrea, PhD, MSCS, CCC-SLP
• Barbara O'Connor Wells, PhD, CCC-SLP