Do Tracheotomy Tubes Affect Swallowing?

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First Chapter Free Buy Course

There is equivocal information in the research literature regarding the effects, if any, tracheostomy tubes have on swallow function. It remains unclear if it is the tracheostomy tube per se that affects swallowing or if it is the underlying medical condition necessitating tracheostomy placement. This course will review research findings and clinical implications of those findings for speech-language pathologists working with individuals with tracheostomy tubes.

Meet your instructor

Debra Suiter

Debra Suiter is the director of the Voice and Swallow Clinic and an associate professor in the Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Suiter has been a speech-language…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Respiration and Swallowing

This chapter will review the relationship between respiration and swallowing and how that relationship changes when a tracheostomy tube is in place. It is important that clinicians understand how and why alterations in respiration affect swallowing because individuals with respiratory disease and other disease processes that affect this relationship can result in significant dysphagia.

2. Tracheostomy Effects on Swallowing

There is equivocal information in the research literature pertaining to the effects, if any, tracheostomy tubes have on swallow function. We will review currently available information on the relationship between tracheostomy tubes and specific aspects of swallow physiology. It is important for clinicians working with individuals with tracheostomy tubes to understand if and how tracheostomy tubes affect swallowing in order to develop appropriate treatment plans for their patients.

3. Tracheostomy Tube Occlusion and Swallowing

In this chapter, we will explain why tracheostomy tube occlusion could affect swallow function and discuss the effects, if any, tracheostomy tubes capping has on swallow function. Finally, we will describe research findings pertaining to use of speaking valves and their effect on swallow function in patients with tracheostomy tubes.

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