(Feeding Therapy) Therapists utilize a combination of Compensatory Techniques and Direct Treatment strategies to improve the safety of oral intake by reducing the risk for aspiration while maintaining quality of life. Compensatory Techniques are used to increase control of the swallow to protect the airway and reduce aspiration risk. These include positioning strategies to redirect the movement of food or liquid in the mouth and throat safely to the esophagus, swallowing maneuvers which change the timing or strength of the movements of swallowing to safely move food or liquid in the mouth and throat safely to the esophagus, and modification of food and liquid consistencies to improve control of allow for safe oral intake. Direct Treatment involves the completion of exercise to improve range of motion, coordination, and the strengthening of muscles of the jaw, lips, cheek, tongue, soft palate, and vocal cords to improve swallow function.

Belongs to the following disciplines:

• Feeding Therapy