Can a video swallow a day keep the kidneys at bay? Not wasting time with the renal failure population
I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like a revolving door while working in the medical field. You see one diagnosis, then another, […]
Sometimes, all you need is R.E.S.T. – A standardized protocol for the Esophageal Sweep
At the end of a long VFSS, don't you just wannt REST?! That is, a "Robust Esophageal Screening Tool!" This article is one that asks […]
Do you dare to D.O.S.S.? A way of measuring dysphagia severity on fluoro
This review will give you all the truth behind the DOSS if you dare to add it to your dysphagia repertoire! The original article is […]
Taking Dysphagia Rehabilitation Wherever Its Map Leads Us…
There's no doubt the vast majority of us wish we had a better map when it comes to the island of dysphagia (at some point […]
Do ya gotta keep your bed up? Reviewing the right positioning for reflux management
With the holiday season upon us quicker than an NPO patient downing 3 oz of water, what better topic to think about than gastroesophageal reflux?! […]
Do we agree to disagree? The different sides of SLPs, Radiologists, and VFSS
"Could we just…" "I'd like to…." "No." "We don't do that here." "We can't do that." Do you ever get spooked having this short back-and-forth […]
It’s getting intense! Part 3 – A novel approach for intensive swallow therapy in healthy, dysphagic adults
Hopefully you guys have a little energy left after all these intense revelations to learn about the last and final intensive swallowing protocol of the […]
It’s getting intense! Part 2-MD Anderson’s “Swallow Boot Camp” Approach
While locating an individual article for this specialized head and neck cancer program proved difficult, getting the overall framework and some details still makes me […]
It’s getting intense! Part 1 – Intensive Dysphagia Rehabilitation (IDR)
Sometimes when people describe things as "intense," one of two emotions emerge for me: Either intriguing curiosity if I am capable of being a triumphant […]
Phew!😓 Intensifying Approaches for Dysphagia Management
Summer's officially here and it's time to heat things up! This 3-part series looks at recent works related to intensive dysphagia rehabilitation approaches. This post […]
A Clinician’s Reflection on Research and Learning
Sharing every review, interview, and resource that has been added here has been a way to lay out what my journey has been like thus […]
A Preview of Possibilities for EMST & Drooling from Parkinson’s
As a kid, we start to form our creative and curious imaginations when we begin to use a common object (e.g. toy hammer) as a […]
How we CARE: Quantifying caregivers’ dysphagia-related experiences
Yes, we absolutely need our patients to be able to complete certain exercises for improvement, follow certain strategies, or be informed about various risks, recommendations, […]
Move over Presbyphagia, there’s a new sarcopenic dysphagia in town
Besides the obvious "What is sarcopenia?" question, literally the very first thoughts I had (and you might have) before reading were: "Is there a difference […]
Through Thick or Thin: To cough or not to cough…That is the silent question
O.M.G. Resident Susie is coughing at the table😳 The nurse saw patient John Doe cough when drinking water with his pills😦 Home health Harry's spouse […]
Reviewing what happens when we don’t tip-toe around the risk
Do you ever feel like you're one person trying to make massive improvements and constant changes? Maybe it's felt like you're Tom Hanks in Castaway […]
A Cinderella Story of Competency for Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies
While I've found different mentors here and there throughout the years, I still always wished I would've had a fairy godmother SLP to turn all […]
The mistaken Masako…fact, fiction, or fantasy?
To follow up after last month's post, we're now exploring the evidence into the mystery behind the Masako/tongue-hold maneuver🧐. With so many questions piling up […]
A clinician’s review on reviewing the research❤️
It's been one wild ride since this whole thing started at SLP R&R!🤪 A year ago, I was fortunate to have a great Guest Post […]
Can we nourish the swallow in acute care?
It’s the age-old story of what came first: the chicken or the egg? We’ve thought about the quandary between aspiration and dysphagia in a similar […]
Your hip bone’s connected to your…..Swallow??
We never talked about that in Anatomy!!?! You don't even have to know the whole song to be able to understand that these two areas […]
What’s the cost of a swallow???
Who here likes to save money? I know, duh, right.🙄 Answering that one question is pretty quick and easy for most people, but the authors […]
What to do when the tube comes out?? Reviewing post-extubation laryngeal injuries in ICU
"I have a patient X. What should I do?" That's basically what our brain automatically defaults to when we cannot come up with a solution […]
Should we stop declining the recline for stroke patients?
I don't know about you, but I would absolutely be a patient who would have the hardest time to "eat small bites," "eat slowly," "minimize […]
Sweet until sour?? Taking a bite out of taste manipulation
While I could pop 20 in my mouth, chew a few times, and let my sensory nerves run wild with these lil treats, I've never […]
Bubbly ideas for the Parkinson’s Disease (Plus) population
While I chugged along reading this article, I found myself with an even greater awareness of the impact our field can have. As clinicians, we're […]
K is for…Kooky!? The “science” behind how /k/ sounds made their way to swallowing
To start the new year off on the right foot, let's start by dispelling some age-old ideas, k? I've done it before. Yes, I'm guilty, […]
Is it as critical as we think? A Systematic Analysis of Dysphagia in Acute and Critical Care
Because medical status in the acute and critical care environments can change in the blink of an eye for multiple reasons, our evaluations, treatment plans, […]
The science behind why positives and negatives don’t mix at bedside
Boy oh boy. If you've been keeping up with latest The Leader lowdown, you might've had many thoughts running rampant in your mind when reading […]
Breathing with COPD is one thing, Swallowing is another story…
In the spirit of the holidays, there's a lot to be thankful for this year. This article made me incredibly grateful for all the clear, […]
Tom-ay-to, Tom-ah-to, TOMASS! Testing mastication and swallowing
I’d be rich if I had a nickel for every time I assessed (aka observe and internally analyzed) a patient chewing. I’d be even more […]
How to Read a Clinical Research Article Pt. 2
I for one have always been a sucker for “classics." Classic cars, classic fashion staples, classic movies on a rainy night. The reason why I’m […]
ASHA, SLP, & EBP in 2020: Guest Post featuring Rebecca Bowen, M.A. CCC-SLP, ASHA Clinical Research Associate
Have you ever wished there were breadcrumbs along the way to know if you're on the right path?? Or ever have an idea or question […]
What’s an SLP to do? Recent Review on Cuff Inflation, Aspiration, and Oral Feeding
For the SLPs who have trach-on-the-brain or those less familiar but wanting to know more, this article attempts to shed a new light on what […]
Healthcare, Adults, COVID-19, and Acute Care in Hospitals: Recent Recommendations
Do you remember in school (high school, undergrad, grad school, anywhere), where you were studying for an exam, going over all your notes and materials, […]
But…Why? A systematic look if patients actually adhere to your recommendations
"Adherence is a critical component of any treatment plan. To effectively achieve the desired result of a therapy intervention, the patient must participate in the […]
“The one where you hold your Adam’s apple up”: The mystery of the Mendelsohn Manuever
I remember reading the directions for Mendelsohn in Logemann's original textbook as a student, feeling my own "Adam's apple" rise and lower, seeing how long […]
Congrats to all Class of 2020 !!!
For all that you've done, for all that you will do, a BIG congratulations to YOU!! So excited and proud to welcome you to the […]
Turning to Telepractice in trying times
No, we may not be there yet with this title. And maybe this is not what some may be thinking about right now. But, being […]
A Tale of Two Worlds: Meshing Telepractice with Head&Neck Cancer populations
My friends, I am right there with you. While I have to be 100% honest that this population is not one I can begin to […]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T for LVC: Laryngeal Vestibule Closure in the Spotlight
Let's hear it for laryngeal vestibule closure y'all!!! Are you wondering what it is? Do you want to know more about it? Then here's your […]
A Closer Look…beginnings of mapping brain lesions linking to swallow impairments in stroke
Remember your undergraduate and/or graduate neuroanatomy course? I know some loathed it and some loved it. For me, I was in my element, so much […]
Oh no! Should I just go with the High Flow?
While doctors are learning more and more about the body/brain/gut connections, us SLPs continue to learn more about the breathing/swallowing connection (among many other things). […]
Just how (bio)available should thickened liquids be in life?
Since Cichero's article is a narrative summary (compared to systematic review), there's not as much to pick apart in study design or methodology practices. However, […]
“You want me to stick what?! Where?!” The Truth about Pulse Oximetry
“The purpose of this study is to systematically review evidence on the use of pulse oximetry in individuals with dysphagia to detect a decrease in […]
“How-To” Read a Research Article
Have you ever sat down with a research journal article in hand, staring at it thinking, Where do I even start? Or What exactly is […]