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Dysphagia is common after stroke, specifically when the infarct is located in the brainstem. Many people with brainstem strokes cannot eat and drink safely due to the risk of aspiration. In the hospital setting it can be determined if it is safe for the individual to eat and drink based on overt signs and symptoms of aspiration or distress during a swallowing assessment. Symptoms may include coughing, throat clearing and wet/gurgly voice after eating or drinking. These patients may be deemed NPO.
Watch a video of Lynn Reed, MA, CCC-SLP, a clinical specialist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, NJ, using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with patient Michel Slim, MD, a former chief of pediatric surgery. He is accompanied by his daughter, Lina Slim-Topdjian, MA, CCC-SLP, BCBA, a speech-language pathologist in private practice.
View a related photo gallery here, and read the cover story, "Swallowing After Stroke," here.
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