[Dysphagia] Re: new list on Medicare holiday coverage

[Janet.finger at kindredhealthcare.com (Janet.finger@kindredhealthcare.com)]

Don't have anything to add to the thin/thick portion of this topic. But I would like to add that I find that my trach pts often have quite a bit of difficulty with jello for some reason. There have been so many occasions of RT suctioning jello out of pt's trachs that when I put them on clear liquids I will now usually specify "no jello." I have come across other SLPs who work frequently with trachs who have found the same thing. Anyone have any theories as to why jello may be so difficult for these pts? My guess is maybe there is less sensation while swallowing this texture (less sensory feedback since it is so smooth?) Just a wild guess. Not aware of any research on this so I'm not sure it is truly a statistically significant issue, but something I have noticed over the years.




-----Original Message-----
From: Irene Campbell-Taylor [mailto:eripley@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 12:48 PM
To: Ralph and Patti; dysphagia@b9.com
Subject: Re: [Dysphagia] Re: new list on Medicare holiday coverage




Ralph and Patti <chcky619@bellsouth.net> wrote:

I am in a running battle with the advocates of thickened liquids who believe that jello should not be served to those who have an order.

*** I assume that there is a conviction that thickening liquids prevents aspiration and that jello somehow will become liquid before being swallowed (altho'. in my experience hospital jello could be used to play golf).  I continue to be amazed that a) this conviction exists in the absence of any evidence b) awareness of the constant aspiration of saliva and its attendant serious hazards for some patients is so low and  c) the astounding propensity to insist on the "rightness" of a position in the absence of either knowledge of physiology or the ability to provide proof is such a hardy characteristic. I am ever in search of the rationales given for the use of thickeners. Could you describe the one given in this situation?

Irene.



Dr I Campbell-Taylor
Clinical Neuroscientist
Exclusive Distributor:
www.interactivetherapy.com
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