Dysphagia & Swallowing
Duration: Half Day
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Enquire NowCourse Overview
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) poses significant risks to health, including malnutrition, dehydration, and life-threatening aspiration pneumonia. This course provides care staff with the essential knowledge to identify the signs of dysphagia and support individuals to eat and drink safely.
We provide in-depth training on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework, ensuring staff understand how to prepare and serve modified foods and thickened fluids correctly. The training emphasizes the importance of following Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) guidelines and knowing when to escalate concerns.
Course Aims
- Understand the normal swallowing process and what happens in dysphagia.
- Recognise the signs, symptoms, and risks associated with dysphagia (including aspiration).
- Understand and apply the IDDSI framework for modified textures and fluids.
- Learn how to safely assist individuals with eating and drinking.
- Understand the importance of good oral hygiene in preventing aspiration pneumonia.
- Know when to refer an individual to a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT).
Course Content
- Anatomy and physiology of a normal swallow.
- Causes and signs of dysphagia.
- The risks: Aspiration, choking, malnutrition, and dehydration.
- The IDDSI Framework (levels 0-7 explained).
- Practical demonstration of thickening fluids to correct consistencies.
- Safe feeding techniques and positioning.
- The role of oral care in dysphagia management.
- Following SALT guidelines and care plans.
- Emergency procedures for choking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we practice using thickeners?
Yes, face-to-face sessions include practical exercises where delegates practice mixing fluids to specific IDDSI levels using common commercial thickeners.
Does this course teach me how to assess someone's swallow?
No, clinical swallow assessments must be conducted by a qualified Speech and Language Therapist (SALT). This course teaches you how to recognize signs of trouble and safely implement SALT recommendations.