Vitamins are fundamental in many processes in the body. Vitamin B is important to those that maintain brain functions like learning, information processing, memory and mood. The B vitamins are often linked with brain health: Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9 (folate), and Vitamin B12. They can help break down homocysteine, high levels of which have been associated with a greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. B vitamins also help produce energy needed to develop new brain cells The human brain is a complex organ requiring many different nutrients to function properly. Nutritional deficiencies have been shown to contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders, age-related cognitive decline, and developmental disorders. On the other hand, both human and animal studies show that increased intake of brain-supporting nutrients improve various aspects of cognitive functioning such as learning and memory. For all these reasons, it is important that you ensure your brain is getting the ...
Patients that suffer from dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing may benefit from a form of treatment called swallowing therapy. Working with a speech pathologist, the patient will learn special exercises to improve the functioning of muscles associated with swallowing. Depending on the individual patient, swallowing therapy may also include a change in diet.
swallowing therapy in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as facilitating swallowing and preventing complications of impaired swallowing.
How do you perform a swallow assessment?
A swallow test is usually carried out by a speech and language therapist (SLT) and can give a good initial assessment of your swallowing abilities. The SLT will ask you to swallow some water. The time it takes you to drink the water and the number of swallows required will be recorded.
Therapy for Swallowing Disorders
During the swallowing therapy sessions, a speech therapist may use different methods involving the lips, jaw and tongue to strengthen the muscles of the mouth. Special exercises for engaging the swallowing muscles and stimulating the nerves that trigger the swallow reflex may be used. Food may be used with the exercises for different textures, temperatures and swallowing ability. Patients may also be taught simple ways to place food in the mouth or position the body and head to help swallowing occur successfully.
Therapy for Feeding Disorders
Patients with swallowing disorders may also have difficulty feeding themselves. An occupational therapist or a speech therapist can assist the patient and family in feeding techniques. The goal of the therapy and different techniques is to make the patient as independent as possible. A nutritional expert can determine the amount of food or liquid necessary to sustain an individual and whether supplements are necessary. Swallowing and feeding therapy can be effective forms of treatment for many swallowing disorders.
Swallowing Therapy Treatment
Swallowing therapy provides evaluation and treatment for individuals with swallowing problems (dysphagia), including patients with: tumors Oral, pharyngeal or laryngeal cancer and other Swallowing disorders
Initially, the mouth and upper throat stages of swallowing are assessed. Speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists use the evaluation to recommend an individual diet plan and teach patients safer ways of swallowing, eating and avoiding breathing food or liquids into their lungs.
This article is for educational purpose, please contact the physician and swallowing therapist for further information.
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