The Essentials: Dysphagia and Dementia

Video Runtime: 31 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 12 Minutes

Dysphagia is a symptom, not a disease unto itself. Difficulty swallowing can be a symptom of a wide variety of medical diagnoses. The underlying diagnosis is a critical factor to consider when developing a treatment approach. Dysphagia clinicians must guard against a “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead develop an understanding of the causative factors and pathophysiology of swallowing disorders in each disease process.

This course will discuss dysphagia in the setting of dementia. The characteristics of dysphagia in patients with dementia will be reviewed in light of dementia type and stage. Specific considerations for assessment of these patients will be discussed, including cognitive and behavioral impacts on swallow function. The evidence base for treatment strategies specific to patients with dementia will be provided, including strategies for management of care-resistant behaviors. Participants will be provided with an opportunity for problem-solving through case review.

This course is appropriate for dysphagia clinicians working in medical settings, including acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care.