dysphagia matters

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Shaun Treweek about why so much health research still falls short. Shaun argues that big parts of health research is “bad” and does not bring the value to the evidence-base we need. As a leading expert in trials methodology he explains how we can change that and how … EP 41: Trials and errors – rethinking health research with Shaun Treweek Read More »

Curious about one of the gold standards in swallowing assessment? Join us for an insightful discussion about Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) with our guest Prof. Heather Starmer. This episode offers valuable perspectives for both those new to FEES and those looking to enhance their current practice, as Heather shares practical knowledge gained from … EP 40: Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) with Heather Starmer Read More »

This is not a regular episode, but we are just as excited to share it with you. We were contacted by Tabby, the science editor of Science at One, a program on IC Radio at Imperial College London. She invited us for an interview as part of a radio feature on dysphagia. It was our … EP 39: Perspectives on dysphagia with Tabby Taylor Buck Read More »

How do ENT specialists balance life-saving treatments with preserving essential functions like swallowing? In this episode we are joined by Prof. Laura Baijens, a leading expert in the field of laryngology and head and neck oncology surgery from the Netherlands. Laura has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people with dysphagia. We talk … EP 38: Saving lives vs. preserving swallowing with Laura Baijens Read More »

Dysphagia impacts countless individuals, and whether you're a clinician, a student, or a researcher, you're part of the collective effort to understand and address this complex condition. But are we all speaking the same language when it comes to defining dysphagia? Surprisingly, the field still lacks a unified definition. In this episode, we welcome three … EP 37: What dysphagia is with Debra Suiter, Giselle Carnaby & Martin Brodsky Read More »

In this episode, we build on our previous one by exploring the practical, clinical side of pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) as a treatment for people with dysphagia. This time we spoke to Rachel Coates, an experienced dysphagia clinician from Ireland who incorporates PES into her daily practice. Rachel shares her insights into how PES works, … EP 36: How PES works in clinical practice with Rachel Coates Read More »

We are excited to share this episode about pharyngeal electrical stimulation with you. Our guest is Shaheen Hamdy, Professor of Neurogastroenterology at the University of Manchester in the UK. In addition to his academic role, he is the co-founder and chief scientific officer of Phagenesis, the company behind Phagenyx – a treatment for dysphagia using … EP 35: Pharyngeal electrical stimulation with Shaheen Hamdy Read More »

This is part two of our conversation with Prof. Joan Arvedson. In our last episode, we laid the foundation for understanding feeding and swallowing. In this episode, Joan will share her insights on the treatment approaches for infants with feeding and swallowing difficulties, and we explore the essential role that parents play in the therapeutic … EP 34: Expert insights in pediatric feeding and swallowing with Joan Arvedson – Part 2 Read More »

Drinking is one of the very first activities that newborns engage in, not only shaping their daily routine but also fostering crucial communication and interaction between them and their caregivers. Developing skills such as sucking, swallowing, and coordinating these with breathing is vital, but what happens when a baby struggles with these essential tasks? We … EP 33: Expert insights in pediatric feeding and swallowing with Joan Arvedson – Part 1 Read More »

Did you know that dysphagia can occur not only in people with head and neck cancer, but also in people with cancers outside the anatomical swallowing regions? This is an area that is often overlooked in clinical practice and is also an under-researched topic. To shed light on this important issue, we interviewed Prof. Ciarán … EP 32: Dysphagia beyond head and neck cancer with Ciarán Kenny Read More »

It was about time we had a conversation about dysphagia in people with head and neck cancer (HNC). And this time our guest was none other than Prof Katherine A Hutcheson from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Kate answered all our questions about HNC-related dysphagia and its presentation, prehabilitation and instrumental assessment … EP 31: Dysphagia in head and neck cancer with Kate Hutcheson Read More »

Welcome to a new episode, this time with Prof. Rainer Dziewas, a neurologist and expert in the field of swallowing and swallowing disorders. For this episode, we asked Rainer to explain how swallowing works on a neurophysiological level because we believe that for dysphagia clinicians like us, understanding the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms is essential for … EP 30: Neurophysiology of swallowing with Rainer Dziewas Read More »

Join us in this episode as we explore the world of pediatric feeding disorders in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with Dr. Pamela Dodrill, a Pediatric Feeding Specialist. Together with her co-authors, Pamela developed a consensus definition and conceptual framework for pediatric feeding disorders and she was part of the FOIS-P team, the Functional … EP 29: Pediatric Feeding Disorders in the NICU with Pamela Dodrill Read More »

As clinicians working in dysphagia management, providing guidance on different consistencies to support our patients in their rehabilitation process and daily life is a fundamental aspect of our clinical responsibilities. However, effective communication about these consistencies is a recurring challenge for both patients and clinicians. In previous episodes, you have already heard us talk about … EP 28: The IDDSI framework with Peter Lam Read More »

In this episode we speak to Dr. Paula Leslie and explore the ethical considerations that shape patient care. Paula discusses the delicate balance between benefits and risks that must be maintained specifically in the management of dysphagia. She also provides insights into real-life ethical dilemmas and shares global perspectives that influence our clinical practice as … EP 27: Exploring medical ethics in dysphagia management with Paula Leslie Read More »

At this year's conference of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD), we had the great pleasure of speaking with Prof. Maggie-Lee Huckabee. Together we discussed her recently published article “The Evolution of Swallowing Rehabilitation and Emergence of Biofeedback Modalities” (Huckabee et al., 2023). Maggie-Lee explains how our understanding of swallowing and swallowing rehabilitation has … EP 26: Strength & Skill Training and our current understanding of swallowing with Maggie-Lee Huckabee Read More »

Pneumonia is considered one of the most critical consequences of dysphagia, and in some patient populations it is a leading cause of death. Although pneumonia plays a major role in our clinical decision-making process as SLTs, we felt that we did not know enough about it. To change that, we invited Dr Harmeet Bedi, a … EP 25: A pulmonologist's perspective on aspiration and pneumonia with Harmeet Bedi Read More »

In this episode, Prof. Janina Wilmskoetter takes us on a journey into the depths of the brain to help us understand the potential impact of stroke on swallowing.  Why does a stroke cause dysphagia in some people and not in others? And why do some recover more quickly than others? Does the location or size … EP 24: From brain lesion to dysphagia: the impact of stroke on swallowing with Janina Wilmskoetter Read More »

In this episode we speak to Prof. Michelle Troche and delve into the crucial topic of airway protection and its connection to swallowing and coughing. Together we explore two approaches: Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) as a strength based approach and the skill based approach called sensorimotor training for airway protection (smTAP). Michelle explains the … EP 23: EMST and smTAP for rehabilitating airway protection with Michelle Troche Read More »

One challenge in dysphagia rehabilitation is the complexity of swallowing itself. Swallowing involves a series of intricate muscle movements and coordination, and it can be challenging for individuals with dysphagia to gain optimal control. Principles of motor learning can greatly enhance dysphagia rehabilitation by providing a systematic framework for optimising the (re-) learning process and improving … EP 22: Enhancing dysphagia rehabilitation through motor learning with Kristan Leech Read More »

A clinical setting that we have not yet covered in this podcast is the intensive care unit (ICU). We were very lucky to have Sarah Wallace OBE as our guest, as she brings a lot of expertise from working clinically as an SLT in critical care as well as conducting research in this field. In … EP 21: Dysphagia in critical care with Sarah Wallace OBE Read More »

In dysphagia management we often think about how our patients can swallow food and liquids the safest and most efficient way and what consistencies are best suited for them. But what about nutritional and hydration needs in people with dysphagia? In this episode we speak to Prof. Rainer Wirth about different nutritional and hydration requirements … EP 20: Dysphagia meets nutrition and hydration with Rainer Wirth Read More »

Dear English speaking listeners: This episode is in German. Es wurde Zeit für eine neue Folge auf Deutsch! Während der diesjährigen Tagung der deutschen Gesellschaft für Dysphagie (DGD) in Köln haben wir mit Prof. Stefanie Duchac über die videofluoroskopische Untersuchung des Schluckens (VFSS) gesprochen.  Sie gibt einen Überblick über die technischen Fragen, erklärt die Relevanz … EP 19: Die videofluoroskopische Untersuchung des Schluckens mit Stefanie Duchac Read More »

Ultrasound is an emerging tool for the assessment of swallowing and treatment of dysphagia. But how can SLTs actually make use of it? And what does it add to our toolbox? To learn more about this new approach, we invited Jodi Allen. She explains what we can do with an ultrasound assessment, where its boundaries … EP 18: The use of ultrasound in dysphagia management with Jodi Allen Read More »

Do you use oral trials in dysphagia management? Do you know what the current evidence base is? In short: oral trials are recommended frequently as a rehabilitation approach in clinical practice, but the evidence base to support it is scarce. So, how exactly do we apply oral trials as a dysphagia intervention? Which patients are … EP 17: Oral trials in dysphagia management with Jacqueline Benfield Read More »

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Órla Gilheaney. Not only is she a clinician, lecturer and researcher working in the field of invisible conditions such as fibromyalgia, but she is also a person living with fibromyalgia herself.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that can cause various symptoms such as widespread pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness, … EP 16: Fibromyalgia and dysphagia with Órla Gilheaney Read More »

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Órla Gilheaney. Not only is she a clinician, lecturer and researcher working in the field of invisible conditions such as fibromyalgia, but she is also a person living with fibromyalgia herself.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that can cause various symptoms such as widespread pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness, … EP 16: Fibromyalgia and dysphagia with Órla Gilheaney Read More »

We started this podcast one year ago and we could not be any happier with how it went so far. Thank you so much for listening and joining us! We are really excited about what's going to come in the new year.Happy holidays and all the best for 2023! Julia & Jule

Bodhi is now 3 years old. When he was about 6 weeks, his parents first noticed something was different. They now know that Bodhi has severe dysphagia but still don't know the underlying cause. Bodhi's mum Kelly talks about the different assessments Bodhi went through, the diagnoses he was given, the lack of awareness of … EP 15: Searching for a cause of Bodhi's paediatric dysphagia with Kelly Read More »

Bodhi is now 3 years old. When he was about 6 weeks, his parents first noticed something was different. They now know that Bodhi has severe dysphagia but still don't know the underlying cause. Bodhi's mum Kelly talks about the different assessments Bodhi went through, the diagnoses he was given, the lack of awareness of … EP 15: Searching for a cause of Bodhi's paediatric dysphagia with Kelly Read More »

How do we know what outcomes to measure and when to measure them when designing clinical trials? And how can we make studies more comparable, so that researchers measure the same outcomes with the same assessment at the same time points? One solution is the development and application of Core Outcome Sets (COS). Dr. Sarah … EP 14: New standards in dysphagia research: Core outcome sets with Sarah Gorst and Nicola Harman Read More »

How do we know what outcomes to measure and when to measure them when designing clinical trials? And how can we make studies more comparable, so that researchers measure the same outcomes with the same assessment at the same time points? One solution is the development and application of Core Outcome Sets (COS). Dr. Sarah … EP 14: New standards in dysphagia research: Core outcome sets with Sarah Gorst and Nicola Harman Read More »

Coughing and swallowing are two important functions, both providing airway protection and therefore being essential for survival. However, as students and clinicians we usually learn a lot more about swallowing than about coughing. And often, evaluating the cough function in the dysphagia assessment goes down with simply asking the patient to cough and subjectively assessing … EP 13: Cough reflex testing with Emma Wallace Read More »

Coughing and swallowing are two important functions, both providing airway protection and therefore being essential for survival. However, as students and clinicians we usually learn a lot more about swallowing than about coughing. And often, evaluating the cough function in the dysphagia assessment goes down with simply asking the patient to cough and subjectively assessing … EP 13: Cough reflex testing with Emma Wallace Read More »

Coughing and swallowing are two important functions, both providing airway protection and therefore being essential for survival. However, as students and clinicians we usually learn a lot more about swallowing than about coughing. And often, evaluating the cough function in the dysphagia assessment goes down with simply asking the patient to cough and subjectively assessing … EP 13: Cough reflex testing with Emma Wallace Read More »

Have you ever wondered what is going on in dysphagia experts' minds when they are seeing a new patient for the first time? What details do they look out for? What are the rationales for upcoming steps in their clinical management? For this episode, we invited Dr Ulrike Frank and Dr James Curtis, two experienced … EP 12: A Parkinson's case discussion with Ulrike Frank & James Curtis Read More »

Have you ever wondered what is going on in dysphagia experts' minds when they are seeing a new patient for the first time? What details do they look out for? What are the rationales for upcoming steps in their clinical management? For this episode, we invited Dr Ulrike Frank and Dr James Curtis, two experienced … EP 12: A Parkinson's case discussion with Ulrike Frank & James Curtis Read More »

Have you ever wondered what is going on in dysphagia experts' minds when they are seeing a new patient for the first time? What details do they look out for? What are the rationales for upcoming steps in their clinical management? For this episode, we invited Dr Ulrike Frank and Dr James Curtis, two experienced … EP 12: A Parkinson's case discussion with Ulrike Frank & James Curtis Read More »

Have you ever hit a paywall and could not access an article without being asked to pay for it? Wouldn't it be great if all research would be transparent and openly available?  In this episode we talk about open science in dysphagia research with James Borders. He takes a deep dive into the core practices … EP 11: Open science in dysphagia research with James Borders Read More »

Have you ever hit a paywall and could not access an article without being asked to pay for it? Wouldn't it be great if all research would be transparent and openly available?  In this episode we talk about open science in dysphagia research with James Borders. He takes a deep dive into the core practices … EP 11: Open science in dysphagia research with James Borders Read More »

Have you ever hit a paywall and could not access an article without being asked to pay for it? Wouldn't it be great if all research would be transparent and openly available?  In this episode we talk about open science in dysphagia research with James Borders. He takes a deep dive into the core practices … EP 11: Open science in dysphagia research with James Borders Read More »

In this episode we speak with Kristin, whose daughter Mackenzie had severe swallowing difficulties. Kristin talks openly about their journey from the first cough and choke until a diagnosis and treatment. She also shares the struggles of not getting information but how the internet could help her. She also gives some pretty good advice to … EP 10: A mother's perspective on dysphagia with Kristin Read More »

In this episode we speak with Kristin, whose daughter Mackenzie had severe swallowing difficulties. Kristin talks openly about their journey from the first cough and choke until a diagnosis and treatment. She also shares the struggles of not getting information but how the internet could help her. She also gives some pretty good advice to … EP 10: A mother's perspective on dysphagia with Kristin Read More »

In this episode we speak with Kristin, whose daughter Mackenzie had severe swallowing difficulties. Kristin talks openly about their journey from the first cough and choke until a diagnosis and treatment. She also shares the struggles of not getting information but how the internet could help her. She also gives some pretty good advice to … EP 10: A mother's perspective on dysphagia with Kristin Read More »

Dear English speaking listeners: this is part 2 of our German episode. We will return later in August with English episodes. Im zweiten Teil unseres Gesprächs zu “Dysphagie bei Menschen mit ALS” mit Ulrich Birkmann geht es um die Therapie von Dysphagien und wie wir unseren Fokus bei der Behandlung von reaktiv auf proaktiv lenken … EP 9: Dysphagie bei ALS – Therapie mit Ulrich Birkmann Read More »

Dear English speaking listeners: this is part 2 of our German episode. We will return later in August with English episodes. Im zweiten Teil unseres Gesprächs zu “Dysphagie bei Menschen mit ALS” mit Ulrich Birkmann geht es um die Therapie von Dysphagien und wie wir unseren Fokus bei der Behandlung von reaktiv auf proaktiv lenken … EP 9: Dysphagie bei ALS – Therapie mit Ulrich Birkmann Read More »

Dear English speaking listeners: this is part 2 of our German episode. We will return later in August with English episodes. Im zweiten Teil unseres Gesprächs zu “Dysphagie bei Menschen mit ALS” mit Ulrich Birkmann geht es um die Therapie von Dysphagien und wie wir unseren Fokus bei der Behandlung von reaktiv auf proaktiv lenken … EP 9: Dysphagie bei ALS – Therapie mit Ulrich Birkmann Read More »

Dear English speaking listeners: this episode is in German. We will be back with English episodes in August. Anlässlich der diesjährigen Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Dysphagie (DGD) in Potsdam haben wir eine Episode mit Ulrich Birkmann auf Deutsch aufgenommen. Wir widmen uns einem komplexen, aber sehr spannenden Thema: Dysphagie bei Amyotropher Lateralsklerose (ALS). Uli … EP 8: Dysphagie bei ALS – Pathophysiologie und Diagnostik mit Ulrich Birkmann Read More »

Dear English speaking listeners: this episode is in German. We will be back with English episodes in August. Anlässlich der diesjährigen Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Dysphagie (DGD) in Potsdam haben wir eine Episode mit Ulrich Birkmann auf Deutsch aufgenommen. Wir widmen uns einem komplexen, aber sehr spannenden Thema: Dysphagie bei Amyotropher Lateralsklerose (ALS). Uli … EP 8: Dysphagie bei ALS – Pathophysiologie und Diagnostik mit Ulrich Birkmann Read More »

Dear English speaking listeners: this episode is in German. We will be back with English episodes in August. Anlässlich der diesjährigen Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Dysphagie (DGD) in Potsdam haben wir eine Episode mit Ulrich Birkmann auf Deutsch aufgenommen. Wir widmen uns einem komplexen, aber sehr spannenden Thema: Dysphagie bei Amyotropher Lateralsklerose (ALS). Uli … EP 8: Dysphagie bei ALS – Pathophysiologie und Diagnostik mit Ulrich Birkmann Read More »

Part 2 of “How to PhD” is all about the process of finding a good mentor for your PhD project. Our guest Dr. Nadine Connor has mentored many PhD students herself. In this episode, she shares her experiences by explaining different styles of mentoring, what mentors and mentees can or should expect from each other … EP 7: How to PhD with Nadine Connor – Part 2 Read More »