[Dysphagia] Esophageal dysphagia

[eripley at yahoo.com (Irene Campbell-Taylor)]

Michel wrote:
   
  I really don't want to insult anyone but : what is the link between speech and esophageal dysphagia? 
   
  *** Of course there is no connection between speech and esophageal dysphagia but there is a clear and unbreakable connection between oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia.  I know that you took my course some years ago - and, clearly, I failed to make this point adequately.  The deglutition mechanism is one functional unit from lips to duodenum (and probably farther). See Dua as well as Triadofilopoulos and others. That is not to say that a dietitian should not be involved whenever possible - of he/she should be intimately involved in the management of dysphagic patients but, often, there is not an RD around in NH etc.so that whoever is involved must have some working knowledge of the whole anatomy and physiology.
  As to University courses covering this - well, we all know the problems there.  There are, however, many who have educated themselves, some with direct teaching after graduation so that I would not automatically assume a lack of knowledge on the part of all SLPs.


Dr I Campbell-Taylor
Clinical Neuroscientist
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