Swallowing Assessment in Patients With Tracheostomy Tubes

Presented by Debra Suiter

Swallowing Assessment in Patients With Tracheostomy Tubes

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Video Runtime: 54 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 45 Minutes

Clinicians who complete swallow assessments with patients with tracheostomy tubes are often faced with a number of clinical questions. These include whether a tracheostomy tube impacts swallow function, whether cuff deflation is necessary prior to completing a swallow assessment, and if speaking valve placement is necessary. In this course, we will discuss specific issues that must be considered when completing a swallow assessment with a patient with a tracheostomy tube.

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

Do Tracheostomy Tubes Affect Swallowing?

1. Do Tracheostomy Tubes Affect Swallowing?

In this chapter, we will review evidence regarding impact of tracheostomy tubes on swallowing. We will also discuss whether cuff deflation and/or speaking valve placement are necessary.

Clinical Swallow Evaluation

2. Clinical Swallow Evaluation

We will review information that can and should be gathered during the clinical swallow evaluation. Limitations of the clinical swallow evaluation for use with patients with tracheostomy tubes will be discussed.

Instrumental Swallow Assessment

3. Instrumental Swallow Assessment

Use of videofluoroscopic swallow studies and endoscopic evaluations of swallowing will be discussed. Special considerations for completing these examinations with patients with tracheostomy tubes will be reviewed.