dysphagia matters
dysphagia matters is a podcast focused on swallowing, swallowing disorders, and the latest evidence, both good and bad. Hosted by Julia and Jule, it covers topics related to dysphagia for professionals and interested listeners.
Episodes
EP 55: Little Lungs, Big Transitions: Navigating Pediatric Tracheostomy Care with Louise Edwards
Tracheostomy care is a highly specialised clinical area, but when it comes to infants and children, the complexities multiply. Pediatric care requires a completely unique approach that accounts for anatomical differences, developmental milestones, and family dynamics.
In this episode, Louise Edwards, Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and PhD candidate, joins us to explore the r
EP 54: More than snoring: the connection between obstructive sleep apnea and dysphagia with Ankita Bhutada
When we think of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), we usually think of snoring, disrupted sleep, and daytime fatigue. But there is a critical link between OSA and dysphagia. In this episode, we sit down with Prof. Ankita Bhutada from Northwestern University to explore how upper airway collapse and chronic respiratory disruption can profoundly impact swallowing function.
We cover:
Understandi
EP 53: Mind meets body: exploring functional dysphagia with Anna Miles
What do you do when patients report severe swallowing difficulties, but all structural and neurological exams come back normal? In this episode, we talk to Prof. Anna Miles about her paper “Functional dysphagia: Developing a framework for assessment and treatment”. We explore why terms like “psychogenic dysphagia” or “phagophobia” are outdated, look into the ne
EP 52: Developing biomarkers for dysphagia assessment with Ervin Sejdić
What if a microphone and a few sensors placed on the neck could detect dysphagia; without access to FEES or videofluoroscopy, maybe even without a dysphagia specialist in the room?
In this episode, we sit down with Prof. Ervin Sejdic, a biomedical engineer at the university of Toronto, whose research is changing the way we think about dysphagia assessment. Ervin leads work on High-Resolu
EP 51: Dysphagia post cardiac surgery with Cara Donohue
Dysphagia is an under-recognised but clinically important complication following cardiac surgery. In this episode, Prof. Cara Donohue discusses why dysphagia can occur despite surgery being anatomically distant from the swallowing mechanism. We explore the complexities of dysphagia in patients post cardiac surgery, highlighting risk factors, prevalence, assessment methods, and potential intervent
EP 50: Beyond the blender – dysphagia made easier with Simone Howells
Preparing safe, enjoyable meals for people with dysphagia can be challenging but it does not have to mean sacrificing enjoyment of food, variety, and social connection. How can clinicians and caregivers help ensure meals remain safe and enjoyable?
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Simone Howells from Griffith University, Australia, about the second edition of Beyond the Blender: Dysphagia Mad
EP 49: How to use meta-analyses as a dysphagia clinician with Kendrea Garand
Meta-analyses are powerful tools, but they can be challenging to interpret. In this episode, we explore how dysphagia clinicians can better understand and critically evaluate meta-analyses to support evidence-informed practice. We are joined by Prof. Kendrea Garand to talk about the article “How to Interpret and Evaluate a Meta-Analysis in the Field of Speech and Language Therapy: A Tutorial for
EP 48: Health (in)equity in dysphagia care with Raele Loy
In this episode, we talk to Dr. Raele Loy, a Speech and Language Therapist and research scientist at the Center for Health Disparities Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We discuss a critical but often overlooked aspect of dysphagia care: health equity, or the lack thereof. Raele discusses what sparked her interest in health equity, and explains what ‘health disparities’
EP 47: Understanding Parkinson’s disease with Werner Poewe
Behind the tremor in Parkinson’s disease lies a complex neurodegenerative process that affects far more than movement. In this conversation, we are joined by Prof. emer. Werner Poewe, neurologist and one of the world’s leading experts in Parkinson’s disease. He unpacks the evolving understanding of Parkinson’s disease, from James Parkinson’s first observations to today’s insights into pathology,
EP 46: When every second counts – button battery ingestion and dysphagia with Kris Jatana
Button batteries may be small, but their impact can be devastating. In this episode, we speak with Prof. Kris Jatana about the serious and often hidden dangers of button battery ingestion in children. Found in everyday household items, these small batteries can cause severe injuries to the esophagus and surrounding structures within hours of ingestion.
Kris explains what button batteries are,
EP 45: Living with dysphagia & ineffective esophageal motility with Adrienne
What is it like to live with dysphagia due to ineffective esophageal motility (IEM)? In this episode, Adrienne shares her personal journey: from first noticing symptoms, through the path to diagnosis, and how the condition has evolved over time.
We explore the deep impact of IEM on eating, drinking, social life, and quality of life. Adrienne talks about what it is like to have an invisible d
EP 44: Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry-Impedence with Taher Omari
Prof. Taher Omari, Physiologist, Principal Research Fellow and lead of the Swallowing Research Group at Flinders University in Adelaide (Australia) joins us to share insights on the new Leuven Consensus. This research project sets out recommendations for pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) disorders using high-resolution manometry with impedance (P-HRM-I).
Taher explains:
the p
EP 43: Medication intake for people with dysphagia with Kathryn Steadman
In this episode, we’re joined by Prof. Kathryn Steadman, who gave an excellent presentation at last year’s European Society for Swallowing Disorders conference in Münster, Germany. Her talk explored the question: Does swallowing tablets with an IDDSI Level 4 gel impact drug absorption?
Because this topic isn’t discussed much – and Kathryn brings a lot of expertise as a pharmacist –
EP 42: Dysphagia in myositis with Bendix Labeit
There are many rare diseases, where dysphagia can manifest. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Bendix Labeit, neurology physician and clinical scientist at University Hospital Düsseldorf in Germany to talk about dysphagia in one of these rare diseases: myositis.
Together, we discuss:
What is myositis, and what are its different forms?
How does dysphagia manifest in people with myosi
EP 41: Trials and errors – rethinking health research with Shaun Treweek
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 we can conduct “good” research for our patients.
Other topics we cover
What leads to “ba
EP 40: Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) with Heather Starmer
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 years in the field.
We ex
EP 39: Perspectives on dysphagia with Tabby Taylor Buck
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 pleasure to be part of this project alongside David, who is living with dysphagia, and Prof. Alexandros Stratakos, who,
EP 38: Saving lives vs. preserving swallowing with Laura Baijens
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 about the challenges ENT specialists face when t
EP 37: What dysphagia is with Debra Suiter, Giselle Carnaby & Martin Brodsky
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 leading experts, Prof. Debra Suiter,
EP 36: How PES works in clinical practice with Rachel Coates
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, the benefits and challenges of using this tre
EP 35: Pharyngeal electrical stimulation with Shaheen Hamdy
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 pharyngeal electrical stimulation. This
EP 34: Expert insights in pediatric feeding and swallowing with Joan Arvedson – Part 2
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 process.
We also talk about some fundamental pri
EP 33: Expert insights in pediatric feeding and swallowing with Joan Arvedson – Part 1
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 were thrilled to speak with Prof
EP 32: Dysphagia beyond head and neck cancer with Ciarán Kenny
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 Kenny from Trinity College Dublin. In his PhD research, Ciarán investiga
EP 31: Dysphagia in head and neck cancer with Kate Hutcheson
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 using the Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowi
EP 30: Neurophysiology of swallowing with Rainer Dziewas
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 a solid assessment and an ef
EP 29: Pediatric Feeding Disorders in the NICU with Pamela Dodrill
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 Oral Intake Scale for pediatrics. We talk
EP 28: The IDDSI framework with Peter Lam
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 27: Exploring medical ethics in dysphagia management with Paula Leslie
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 dysphagia clinicians workin
EP 26: Strength & Skill Training and our current understanding of swallowing with Maggie-Lee Huckabee
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 swall
EP 25: A pulmonologist’s perspective on aspiration and pneumonia with Harmeet Bedi
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 pulmonologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, to join us for an episo
EP 24: From brain lesion to dysphagia: the impact of stroke on swallowing with Janina Wilmskoetter
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 of the lesion matter at all? We had lots of questions for Janina and we were de
EP 23: EMST and smTAP for rehabilitating airway protection with Michelle Troche
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 relevance of training airway
EP 22: Enhancing dysphagia rehabilitation through motor learning with Kristan Leech
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 a
EP 21: Dysphagia in critical care with Sarah Wallace OBE
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 this episode, Sarah will explain why dysphagia on the ICU is multifactorial, why it is so important to res
EP 20: Dysphagia meets nutrition and hydration with Rainer Wirth
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 for elderly people, people with presbyphagia and d
EP 19: Die videofluoroskopische Untersuchung des Schluckens mit Stefanie Duchac
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 der F
EP 18: The use of ultrasound in dysphagia management with Jodi Allen
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 are and how we can implement it in our clinical practice.
Helpful literature mentio
EP 17: Oral trials in dysphagia management with Jacqueline Benfield
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 suitable? Is it a safe and effective approach? Tune in to this episod
EP 16: Fibromyalgia and dysphagia with Órla Gilheaney
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, problems with mental processes (“fibro-fog”
EP 15: Searching for a cause of Bodhi’s paediatric dysphagia with Kelly
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 paediatric dysphagia and the impact on a family’s life when having a child wi
EP 14: New standards in dysphagia research: Core outcome sets with Sarah Gorst and Nicola Harman
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 Gorst and Dr. Nicola Harman share their knowledge on Core Outcome Sets,
EP 13: Cough reflex testing with Emma Wallace
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 the effectiveness of
EP 12: A Parkinson’s case discussion with Ulrike Frank & James Curtis
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 clinicians and researchers, presented them a case scenario and accompanied them on
EP 11: Open science in dysphagia research with James Borders
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 of open science: pre-registration, self-archiving, gold open access, open data and re
EP 10: A mother’s perspective on dysphagia with Kristin
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 all clinicians working with kids with feeding and swallowi
EP 9: Dysphagie bei ALS – Therapie mit Ulrich Birkmann
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 können. Wer Ulis tolles Projekt “Dysphagie 2 Go” zusammen mit Yas
EP 8: Dysphagie bei ALS – Pathophysiologie und Diagnostik mit Ulrich Birkmann
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 erklärt
EP 7: How to PhD with Nadine Connor – Part 2
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 and how you can find out if someone could be a suitable mentor for you. This can also
EP 6: How to PhD with Irene Battel & Beatrice Manduchi – Part 1
This time, we have two great guests who share their very own experiences with doing a PhD: Dr Irene Battel has just recently finished her PhD at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and Beatrice Manduchi is right in the middle of her PhD at the University of Toronto, Canada.
They talk about the highs and lows and the importance of doing a PhD in the field of speech and language therapy and especia
EP 5: Dysphagia assessment – Screening in adults with Margaret Walshe
Dr. Margaret Walshe joined us for this episode to discuss the first step in the process of dysphagia assessment: screening. She shares her expertise on who should be screened when and by whom and gives recommendations on how to decide for the best suitable screening tool. She explains why it is important to look beyond sensitivity and specificity when assessing the diagnostic accuracy of a test a
EP 4: Aspiration, risk and risk feeding with Shaun O’Keeffe
In episode four we speak to Prof. Shaun O’Keeffe. He and his colleagues have published the article “Aspiration, risk and risk feeding: A critique of the Royal College of Physicians guidance on care of people with eating and drinking difficulties” (O’Keeffe et al., 2021), which was awarded “Annual Best Paper Award 2021” by the ACS Journal. While talking about his paper, Shaun highlights why the lan
EP 3: LSVT LOUD and swallowing with Cynthia Fox
In this episode we speak to Dr. Cynthia Fox, CEO and co-founder of LSVT Global and LSVT LOUD faculty. The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT or LSVT LOUD) is an approach that was originally developed to treat voice and speech disorders in people with Parkinson’s disease. Over the years, changes in swallowing have been observed in patients with Parkinson’s post LSVT LOUD and pilot studies h
EP 2: Coordination of respiration and swallowing with Ulrike Frank
Inhaling, exhaling, swallowing, exhaling … and all over again. Breathing and swallowing are two natural parts of our human lives. But how does it actually work? How do our brains coordinate it? And what happens when a respiratory or neurological disease is present?
In this episode Dr. Ulrike Frank shares her expertise on respiration, swallowing and the coordination of the two. She also gives g
EP 1: Intraoral treatments with Ivy Cheng
Oromotor exercises and intraoral sensory stimulation are basic treatment approaches that are oftentimes used when treating patients with neurogenic dysphagia. But what does the evidence say about these interventions that are part of most clinician’s daily work?
We start this podcast with the big question: “Do we know what we are doing?” when implementing intraoral treatments in neurogenic dys
Welcome to dysphagia matters
In this introduction you can learn more about us, Julia and Jule, and what to expect from this podcast.
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