Dietitian and Nutritionist for Dysphagia

Digestive health support dietitians can help manage the swallowing disorder known as dysphagia in a number of ways:

• Discuss normal versus abnormal anatomy and function related to chewing and swallowing.
• Screen for signs, symptoms and risk factors, e.g., conditions and medications, that are associated with chewing and swallowing difficulty.
• Discuss the health and safety risks associated with dysphagia, e.g., choking, aspiration, pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and fear/anxiety.
• Determine whether a referral for further swallowing assessment is needed.
• Consult with other medical providers as needed on clients’ behalf, if needed and if viable.
• Provide support strategies for issues such as food avoidance, poor appetite, lack of interest, mealtime anxiety and inadequate intake or malnutrition.
• Assess nutritional status, physical and mental well-being for clients with dysphagia.
• Determine whether nutritional or hydration support is needed, e.g., nutritional supplements or nutrient dense food recommendations.
• Have a dysphagia support dietitian assess chewing and swallowing ability and recommend dysphagia diets as indicated, e.g., evidence-based, standardized texture modified food and fluid guidelines.
• Co-create  with a dietitian and nutritionist a personalized dysphagia meal plan and adjust the plan as needed.
• Provide education regarding texture modified food/fluid preparation and recommendations for commercially available products.
• Recommend safe swallowing strategies, e.g., adaptive eating utensils, body positioning, environmental adaptations, and food amount and pacing.
• Screen oral health status as a factor in eating difficulty and as a predictor for aspiration pneumonia.
• Discuss any other concerns with a dysphagia dietitian and nutritionist.
• Address other co-existing conditions, needs and goals such as diabetes management, weight loss and more.
• And more.