Nonsurgical Treatments of Swallowing Disorders
Swallowing rehabilitation involves the use of exercises, changes in diet, and changes in the neck and body posture to improve swallowing safety and efficiency. An individual treatment plan is developed for each patient because swallowing disorders vary in the degree of severity. The goal of swallowing rehabilitation is to re-establish oral feeding to a level that is as normal as possible. The swallowing rehabilitation program begins after a detailed swallow evaluation has been completed. Treatment is then provided by a speech-language pathologist who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders. The treatment plan may include:
- oral motor exercises
- swallowing maneuvers
- postural techniques
- diet modifications
- nutrition counseling
- voice strengthening exercises