Dysphagia Management and Stroke Units

Dysphagia is one of the many complications of stroke. It is common and is an independent marker of outcome. Dysphagia management is important. Although the speech and language pathologist is the key worker in dysphagia management, they are supported by all members of the multi-disciplinary team. Stroke patients should be screened on admission for the presence of dysphagia and assessed by the speech and language therapist (or appropriate professional), where indicated investigation should be undertaken to understand the swallowing physiology and to guide treatment. Management, at present, is based around texture modification of food/liquids and swallowing manoeuvres. Rehabilitation of swallowing remains in its infancy, but there is a lot of promising research with neurostimulation, medication and devices to strengthen muscles involved in swallowing.