One of the Carter Swallowing Center patients’ success story was featured on CBS Channel 4 News at Noon on Monday. Click here to watch the TV segment. Joanna started at the Carter Swallowing Center being unable to swallow any foods or liquids, including her much needed medication which she could not crush and put in [...]
A puree diet can taste GOOD
Think puree consistency foods are terrible? Well, I have to admit that most are. However, I am currently working with a woman with dysphagia that happens to be a gourmet chef, and she has completely made me re-think puree consistency food. During each therapy session she would bring in another one of her [...]
Minimizing the Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia
One of the most serious health risks to patients who have difficulty swallowing is that of developing aspiration pneumonia. “Aspiration” is the medical term for when food or liquids go into the wind pipe (trachea) and then into the lungs when swallowing. Repeated aspiration can eventually lead to pneumonia. Of course the best way to [...]
Dysphagia Documentary Now on YouTube
The first time I saw Swallow: A Documentary, it brought tears to my eyes (hokey, but true). Not tears because of how tragic dysphagia is for the 2 adults and 1 child in the movie, but tears of joy because of the HOPE that these patients have for getting better. Part of my dream in starting a [...]
New Hope for Patients with Dysphagia Following Cancer Treatment
Patients who have had treatment for head and neck cancer are one of the most challenging populations that we dysphagia clinicians work with in therapy. One of the obstacles to helping this population is getting beyond the significant fibrotic tissue that can develop after the radiation treatment. But there is new hope for treating [...]
My Journey to Opening a Swallowing Therapy Center
Looking back over my speech pathology career the last 18 years, I never imagined that I would start my own private practice specializing in difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). I’ve had the good fortune of working at some world-class facilities like the University of Colorado Hospital and Craig Hospital, and I have formed life-long friendships with many [...]
