DYSPHAGIA BLOG
AAC Awareness Month: Making Mealtimes Communication-Friendly
Every October, AAC Awareness Month shines a light on the importance of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in supporting individuals who face communication challenges. For those living with dysphagia, mealtimes can be not only physically difficult but also isolating when communication options are limited. At Simply Modified, we believe that mealtimes should be empowering, not isolating. That’s why we’re excited to share our Mealtime Communication Boards, designed specifically to make communication during meals accessible and enjoyable.
Celebrating National Carers Week: The Unsung Heroes in Dysphagia Care
As we celebrate National Carers Week (October 13–19, 2024), it’s time to recognise and honour the extraordinary individuals who dedicate their lives to caring for others. This year’s theme, “Millions of Reasons to Care,” invites us to reflect on the countless reasons carers make such a profound impact on our society. It is a powerful reminder of how essential carers are in our community, especially when supporting those with complex needs like dysphagia.
Speech Pathology and Parkinson’s Disease
While the tremors and rigidity are commonly associated with Parkinson's, the speech and swallowing challenges often come as a surprise. Enter speech pathology – a critical field dedicated to understanding and treating communication and swallowing disorders.
Leading the way for dysphagia cookbooks
Adjustment, standardisation, restriction, variation. Who would have thought these words would ever come close to the description of a meal, a bite of food or dinner preparation? But, for many living with dysphagia (dis-fay-juh; swallowing impairment), this is their reality. Meals require careful adjustment to ensure that each mouthful is swallowed safely….
What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia (dis-fay-juh) // noun
Swallowing disorder
Humans swallow an average of 500-700 times per day. For someone living with dysphagia, this battle can take a huge toll on one’s attitude towards mealtimes…