Patients who suffer a stroke and need screening difficult to swallow? I know that therapists assess those who fail the screening, but leads the projection in the first place?
In my experience, usually the health professional to care for them - often a nurse or HCA in a department will identify a potential problem, then, after discussion with a doctor will refer to speech.
Some hospitals have a screening tool that nurses can use - trying thickened liquids or yoghurt first, before referral to speech and language.
From my experience as a nurse if you have any doubt, discuss with the doctor patient, the patient is normally put nil by mouth until the SALT team evaluated. A kind of liquid would be given either intravenously or by nasogastric tube until a person has been deemed safe.
If there is any doubt, it is better that someone is nil by mouth until an assessment SALT - the risk of aspiration pneumonia is too great otherwise.
During my training as a nurse, I have not learned to effectively test swallow someone - is a specialized field, which must be made by those who are trained appropriately.
It should be part of the admission assessment - done by a doctor or nurse.
Posted on April 1, 2010.
