Module 9: Pt.2 Nutritional assistance

Question 1

What is dysphagia

Answer 1

difficulty swallowing

Question 2

If client needs assistance

Answer 2

• Hand hygine
• spoon in
• place hand on throat, to palpate swallowing
• suction away if necessary
• inspect
• rest periods
• must sit up 30 min after meal
• look for pouching
• place food on strong side

Question 3

explain clear liquid diet

Answer 3

Broth, coffee, tea, clear fruit juice, gelatine, popsicle

Question 4

Explain thickened liquid diet

Answer 4

nectar, honey or pudding thickness

Question 5

explain full liquid diet

Answer 5

smooth textured dairy, custard, oatmeal, veg juice, puree, fruit juice

Question 6

explain pureed diet

Answer 6

scrambled eggs added, purred meat and veg

Question 7

What is aspiration

Answer 7

Misdirection of oropharyngeal secretions or gastric contents into larynx and lower respiration tract.
Those with dysphagia are at risk
*Trachypnea can result from aspiration and aspiration pneumonia
-Results form sensory damage to the pharynx and muscle weakness in the throat an mouth, lack of protective cough

Question 8

Who is at risk for dysphagia

Answer 8

Neurogenic, myogenic, obstructive sedation, ventilation, lying flat, frequent drooling, pocketing or spitting out food

Question 9

More subtle signs of aspiration

Answer 9

• Lack of speech
• less alertness
• wet quality of voice
• drooling
• cant control secretions
• absense of gag reflex

Question 10

If you expect aspirations then…

Answer 10

put patient on NPO until evaluated by speech language pathologist

Question 11

Consequences of dysphagia

Answer 11

• Physiological: Less appetite, malnutrition, pneumonia, post stoke pneumonia
• Emotional: body image, embrresed, social isolation, depression, burden

Question 12

Cannot refer a dysphagia patient if…

Answer 12

they are unconscious or drowsy
they cannot sit up right
they are near end of life or will require a surgical intervention

Question 13

When observing a patient note the following things:

Answer 13

• open mouth (weak lip closure)
• drooling
• facial or tongue weakness
• difficulting moving and swallowing liquired
• slurred speach
• hoarsness
• poor posture
• weak voluntary cough
• fraility, confusion, dementia
• no spontaneous swallowing

Question 14

Where does oropharyngeal suctioning remove secretions from

Answer 14

only back of throat

Question 15

signs an symptoms of airway obstruction

Answer 15

• drool
• gastric secretions
• vomit
• cough w/o clearing secretions