Speech Therapist Swallowing

Strategies and Recommendations

Diet Recommendations:
- Thicken your liquids so that they are Nectar-thick.
- You can eat all solid consistencies.

Oral Care Recommendations:

- Complete in proper oral care twice daily.
o Brushing teeth thoroughly (2 minutes)

Safe Swallowing Strategies to do at home:

- Make sure whenever you take a bite your turn your head to the so you can clear the
extra food stuck in your throat.
- Take one extra dry swallow after every two bites (bitebitedry swallow) to clear
extra food that is stuck in your throat.

Exercises to complete at home:

- Mendelsohn Maneuver:
o Initiate a swallow, hold the swallow right before it is about to go down and
squeeze tight, don’t let it go, after three seconds release it
 Make sure your throat is staying elevated
o Hold for three seconds for 10 repetitions, five times a day, five days a week
- Effortful Swallow:
o Swallow hard
o Imagine that you are swallowing a ping pong ball, using all of your throat and
tongue muscles during the entire swallow
o Complete 10 effortful swallows twice per day, five days a week with applesauce

Signs and Symptoms of Aspiration

Coughing or Wheezing

Harsh/Wet Vocal Quality

Throat Clearing
First Time Second Time Third Time Fourth Time Fifth Time
 Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed
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Fifth Day

Mendelsohn Maneuver
Complete 10 repetitions, five times a day, five days a week

Effortful Swallow
Complete 10 repetitions, twice a day, five days a week

First Time Completed Second Time Completed

Days of the Week
First Day
Second Day
Third Day
Fourth Day
Fifth Day