Revised Study Guide Deck Flashcards
What is best practice?
Evidence, Experience, and Empathy
What associations/entities define our scope of practice and the rules SLP’s should adhere to when diagnosing and treating swallowing patients??
Entities:
• ASHA
• State boards
• Insurance companies - Medicare; Managed Health Care Companies
• Whoever you receive reimbursements from also define what you can/not do
What are the rules?
Rules:
• Physician must be present when we are conducting a MBS
• We do not have exclusive rights to be the only providers of Dysphagia - OT’s can be the primary providers as well if they’re adequately trained (eval. and intervention are within their scope of practice)
• We cannot dictate what other professions do/cannot control them
Know at least 5 key activities that occur during the pharyngeal stage (in your notes).
· Closure of the velopharyngeal port
· Tongue BASE retraction (contacts and hits pharyngeal wall)
· Elevation of hyoid and larynx
· Closure of larynx
· Relaxation/ opening of the UES (upper esophageal sphincter)
What is the UES?
• Upper esophageal sphincter: known as the Cricopharyngeal opening or the pharyngeal esophageal segment; located at the lower end of pharynx and guards the entrance into the esophagus
What is the UES role in swallowing?
• Role in swallowing:
o Pressure drives it to open, which is caused by the larynx elevating
o Cricopharyngeus muscle opens to permit entry of bolus into esophagus.
o It prevents reflux of esophageal contents into the pharynx to guard airway aspiration.
o This stage is involuntary - occurs in 1 second
What role does the floor of mouth muscles play in swallowing?
The muscles of the floor of the mouth elevate the hyoid and larynx.
What are the methods we utilize to evaluate swallowing (clinical and instrumental)?
Bedside Swallow evaluation, MBS, FEES, Manometry (mostly for research), Ultrasound
What are the 4 categories of swallowing treatment that Groher and Crary -discuss. Give an example of each one.
Behavioral- changing behavior to adapt to the swallowing disorder (i.e., Look left, no straws, slow down)
· Dietary- changing the diet to adapt to the swallowing disorder, chopped meats, blended food
· Medical- medication changes to adapt to the swallowing disorder, N-G tube, botox
· Surgical- surgical procedure to fix the swallowing disorder, Thyroplasty, G-tube
What is the main medical consequence of pharyngeal dysphagia?
Aspiration Pneumonia
Name a few normal changes of swallowing that occur in the elderly as it relates to each of the oral stage.
· Oral stage: hold bolus more anteriorly, increased/ prolonged mastication, reduction in tongue mobility, sensory changes
Name a few normal changes of swallowing that occur in the elderly as it relates to each of the pharyngeal stage.
Pharyngeal stage: Larger volumes to trigger the swallow, slower time for UES/PE segment to relax, triggering of pharyngeal swallow below ramus. Coupling of swallowing separates
Name a few normal changes of swallowing that occur in the elderly as it relates to each of the esophageal stage.
· Esophageal: Transmit may be delayed, higher incidence of reflux and mobility issues
Why are the normal healthy elderly at risk for swallowing problems? (Not looking for “they become weak) Be specific!
· Overall reduction in “reserve” anatomical/ physiological changes
· The uncoupling of oral and pharyngeal events
Where is the main neural control of swallowing located?
- Medulla (brainstem)
- Nucleus Tractus Solitarii (NTS): located in the medulla oblongata which is clusters of nucleii (cell bodies) that regulate sensory and taste;
Define the NTS.
It’s a junction box - coordinates large amount of input and output for sensory/motor (makes sense of sensory info) -including respiratory, gag
• The Vagus nerve in the medulla controls motor information. The NTS controls sensory information (including taste).
· Penetration:
some of the bolus enters the area above the glottis. The larynx and hyoid move up and the trace amount of the bolus is removed from the glottis.
· Aspiration
when the bolus enters the area above the glottis and is not removed. It passes through the vocal folds and into the lungs.
• aspiration can be normal…as long as it it trace (we all aspirate everyone once in fa while!)
nutritive sucking?
Nutritive sucking- sucking for nutrition
• Typically 1 suck per second
• There is an apneic period – AIRWAY IS CLOSED
Non-nutritive sucking
· Non-nutritive sucking- sucking for pleasure
• faster than nutritive sucking
• 2 sucks per second
• No apneic period – always breathing (airway is open)
What are the differences in the nose anatomy of swallowing infant versus adult?
*Swallowing is voluntary and involuntary in adults, but it is only involuntary in newborns.
• nose in infants
o smaller nares
o sinuses are not completely formed
What are the differences in the oral cavity anatomy of swallowing infant versus adult?
*Swallowing is voluntary and involuntary in adults, but it is only involuntary in newborns.
Tongue fills mouth
o -Edentulous (no teeth)
o -Tongue rests between lips, sits against palate
o -Sucking pads in cheeks
o -Smaller mandible
o -Sulci (space between gum and inside of cheek) important in sucking for infant
What are the differences in the pharynx anatomy of swallowing infant versus adult?
*Swallowing is voluntary and involuntary in adults, but it is only involuntary in newborns.
o no definite oropharynx so they have less risk of aspiration
o obtuse angle at skull base in nasopharynx
o single line of breathing allowing infants to suck and swallow at the same time
What are the differences in the larynx anatomy of swallowing infant versus adult?
*Swallowing is voluntary and involuntary in adults, but it is only involuntary in newborns.
o ⅓ of adults size o ½ true vocal folds are cartilage o very narrow vertical epiglottis o more forward and higher o thyroid cartilage is round
What are the differences in the esophagus anatomy of swallowing infant versus adult
*Swallowing is voluntary and involuntary in adults, but it is only involuntary in newborns.
o 1.5 cm in length
o LES is still immature, LES keeps acid from coming back up into esophagus – LES is still developing
o Usually matures by 6 months – may take 9-12
o Delayed gastric emptying
o reflux is normal in infants
o 40% regurgitate at least 1x daily
How is the infant’s anatomy customized to prevent aspiration?
• There is no definite oropharynx. The soft palate and epiglottis are squished together, allowing the child to suck and breathe simultaneously.
What is RDS?
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome
o Affects lungs of preterm neonates due to a lack of “surfactant” or (fluid secreted by lungs to stabilize and prevent them collapsing upon exhalation)
o Due to lack of fluid, preemies have difficulty inflating and deflating lungs
How does RDS affect the infant’s swallow?
• RDS affects the infant’s swallowing because they choose to protect their respiratory system through a voluntary refusal to swallow