Following the IDDSI diet can be simple if you have an understanding of the recommended diet, what it entails, and how to objectively measure it. This falls within the scope of a speech language pathologist, so if you aren’t working with an SLP, I would recommend that you do. A medical based SLP will give you a full comprehensive assessment of your swallow function and offer their recommendations to ensure you are safely consuming the appropriate recommended diet. Dysphagia management can be a combination of diet modification, compensatory swallow strategies, and oral motor/pharyngeal strengthening exercises best done with resistance offered via neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

A #stroke can lead to #parkinsonism if it occurs in specific areas of the brain, particularly the basal ganglia (the area responsible for smooth motor movement). This results in symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, a condition often referred to as “vascular parkinsonism.” ⚕️The basal ganglia is the key brain region affected in both Parkinson’s disease and vascular parkinsonism, so strokes impacting this area can trigger parkinsonian symptoms. ⚕️“Vascular parkinsonism” often arises from multiple small strokes in the basal ganglia, rather than a single large stroke. ⚕️The basal ganglia primarily controls smooth movements rather than gross movements, by filtering out unnecessary or incorrect movement signals and ensuring the initiation of correct movements while suppressing unwanted ones, effectively fine-tuning voluntary movements. This ensures production of smooth and coordinated actions. ⚕️The basal ganglia operate through two pathways: a direct pathway that facilitates movement and an indirect pathway that inhibits unwanted movements, maintaining a balance for smooth motor control. ⚕️If parkinsonism develops after a stroke, doctors may consider the possibility of vascular parkinsonism and tailor treatment strategies accordingly, which may differ slightly from treatment for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.

You are viewing treatment of dysphagia via use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation! I love providing this treatment and upgrading my patients diet to include more pleasurable meals that are SAFE TO CONSUME. SO WHAT IS neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) when it comes to dysphagia "swallowing disorder"? NMES is a procedure that uses electrical impulses to stimulate muscles. ⚡️For DYSPHAGIA, it is a non-invasive treatment that uses a low-level electric current to stimulate the muscles used for swallowing. ⚡️NMES can help improve swallowing function by: 1. Strengthening the swallowing muscles 2. Rehabilitating the swallowing reflex 3. Increasing sensory input in the oral pharyngeal region. 💡Here's how NMES works: ➡️Electrodes: Electrodes are placed on the skin of the neck and/or face. ➡️Electrical current: A small amount of electrical current is delivered to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. ➡️Treatment sessions: A speech language pathologist administers NMES while the patient performs a variation strengthening exercises. ⚡️Some studies have shown that NMES can be effective in treating dysphagia, especially when combined with traditional dysphagia therapy. ⚡️Ampcare ESP is a protocol that combines NMES with a resistive exercise and a restorative posture device. It stimulates important swallow anatomy, providing airway resistance thus reducing chances of aspiration.🔥✅

#Diet Modification for #dysphagia may be challenging, but with guidance it becomes easier. 🌱 A puréed diet is classified as LEVEL 4 on the #IDDSI chart. IDDSI is short for the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative founded in 2013 to standardize classification of foods and drink and unify its terminology. A puréed diet is smooth with no lumps and can hold its shape on a spoon. These foods have no chunks, are not sticky, and do not separate with liquids. Almost all foods can be puréed with added liquid and a blender/food processor. To ensure compliance, use the following objective tests: 👉🏽Appearance check: (Levels 4-7) Check for moisture and particle size. 👉🏽Fork Drip Test: (Levels 3-4) Assesses thickness. Place a small amount on a fork. If a small tail flows through the prongs, it passes the test. If it drips or flows completely, then it fails the test. 👉🏽Spoon Tilt Test: (Levels 4-5) Assesses stickiness. Place a small amount on a spoon, then tilt. If the food slides off easily despite thin film of residue, it is not sticky and passes the test.