Treatment Compensatory Strategies

Question 1

What are the 4 characteristics of compensatory interventions

Answer 1

Often starting point of treatment
Intended to cause immediate but temporary swallow function improvement,
Change circumstance of swallow not swallow itself,
When used alone, thought to be purely behavioral, not have neural underpinnings

Question 2

What is appropriate seating?

Answer 2

Compensatory posture. 90 degree angel optimal (not good if spinal injury, subdural hematoma, obese),
Counteracts effects of gravity, so easier to control bolus
May help prevent reflux

Question 3

What are the postures used in treatment

Answer 3

chin up,
chin down,
head turn left/right, head tilt left/right

Question 4

What are the benefits of postural modification?

Answer 4

widely applicable, easily performed,
can judge effectiveness during evaluation,
redirect flow of food, change dimensions of pharynx.

Question 5

Do postures work for all patients?

Answer 5

No! No one posture will work for all patients that you think it would work for. Sometimes they make things worse

Question 6

What is the chin tuck position

Answer 6

The head and neck are forward 45 degrees with the chin as close to the chest as possible BEFORE swallowing

Question 7

What does the chin tuck position do?

Answer 7

Keep bolus in front of mouth,
Put epiglottis into more protective postion
Might widen valleculae
Narrows entry to laryngeal airway
Reduces Distance from BOT to PPW

Question 8

Who is the chin tuck position for?

Answer 8

Mildly delayed swallow trigger, poor pharyngeal wall contraction, poor tongue base retraction