Question
Should a patient participate in a modified barium swallow study to trial a bolus with different textures?
Answer
Conducting a modified barium swallow study is the ideal way to assess our patients. However, in the real world, we cannot always do that. We know that sometimes the doctor says no, sometimes the patient says no, and sometimes insurance says no. If there is no way to actually get your patient to do a swallow study, just watch your patient with these different textures and flavors to see how they respond, see how they react, and see what they do with these different textures. Is there one texture that creates a faster swallow response? Is there one where the patient has a stronger swallow response? Does the patient cough on every texture that you have given him, except one? That would be my starting point if I could not have my patient participate in a swallow study.
Tiffani L. Wallace has been an SLP for over 13 years. She enjoys working with patients of all ages, however has a special interest in adults with head and neck cancer. Tiffani is the co-author of the app Dysphagia2Go by SmartyEars. Tiffani is the administrator and creator of several Facebook dysphagia groups and the author of Dysphagia Ramblings.
