Dysphagia Program
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing, and it’s more common, and more dangerous, than most people realize. After a stroke, brain injury, head or neck surgery, or prolonged intubation, the muscles involved in swallowing can weaken or lose coordination. When food or liquid goes into the airway instead of the stomach (aspiration), it can cause pneumonia, which is a leading cause of serious illness and death in older adults.
MediLodge’s dysphagia program is run by speech-language pathologists who specialize in swallowing assessment and rehabilitation.
How the program works
It starts with evaluation. The speech therapist assesses swallowing function, sometimes through a clinical bedside exam and sometimes through an instrumental evaluation (like a modified barium swallow study, which uses X-ray imaging to watch what happens when you swallow). Based on the results, the therapist determines the safest food textures and liquid consistency for the patient and develops a therapy plan to strengthen the swallowing muscles.
Therapy includes specific exercises targeting the tongue, throat, and airway protection mechanisms. Patients also learn compensatory strategies, including techniques like chin tucks or head turns that change how food moves through the throat and reduce aspiration risk. The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework is used to classify food and drink textures consistently.
Working with the dietary team
The speech therapist works closely with MediLodge’s dietary team to make sure meals match the patient’s swallowing ability. If someone is on a pureed diet, the kitchen prepares food that meets those standards. As swallowing improves, the diet is upgraded gradually (from pureed to soft to regular) based on therapy progress and re-evaluation.
The goal
For many patients, the goal is to return to eating and drinking normally. For others with progressive conditions, the goal is to maintain the safest possible diet and reduce aspiration risk. Either way, the program helps people eat with less fear and less danger.
Learn more
Find a MediLodge location near you and contact the facility to ask about dysphagia services.