The Singapore Family Physician
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Vol 41 No. 2 - Home Care
Assessment and Management of Dysphagia
The Singapore Family Physician
Vol 41
No 2
- Home Care
11
- 16
1 July 2015
0377-5305
Dysphagia is a common problem among the elderly either as a result of age-related loss of musculature and function involved in the act of swallowing, and/or because of neurological, degenerative, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases that cause decreased swallowing function. Assessment for dysphagia is important to prevent serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia. Referral to the speech-language therapist for comprehensive assessment paves the way for proper management. The management may include diet modification, compensatory swallowing techniques, swallowing exercises or use of feeding tubes and facilitative devices.