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Collaboration Between Disciplines by Melissa N., M.A., CCC-SLP
 
I overheard my Director of Rehab, who is also the department’s COTA, talking with his new student the other day. “This department is just really the three of us. Our PT, our Speechie, and me. The OTR comes in for evals and updates, but really, it’s just the three of us. We run like a family… we help each other out. We each do our part to be sure that the other is able to do his or her job as easily and as happily as possible.”

The Influence of Music in the Medical Field -melissa n., M.A., CCC-SLP

Isaac Asimov said that “The only constant is change…” I

Unique and Bizarre Holidays as Therapy Topics or Material -melissa n., M.A., CCC-SLP

New and interesting therapy material can be difficult

November is Latin American Month:
• 48.4 million is the estimated Hispanic population of the U.S.
as of July 1, 2009. The

The Role of Speech Pathologists in Regards to Determining Feeding Tube Placement

melissa n., SLP

 As a Speech Pathologist working in thelong term care setting, dysphagia and the effects that it has on a patient and his or her overall health status are a daily battle. In 1999, 46.9% of Speech-Language Pathologists reported that they regularly serve individuals with dysphagia on their caseload. The percentage exceeded 91% for professionals working in hospitals and residential health care settings (ASHA, 2000). The recommendation for “NPO with alternate means of nutrition” is not one that is easily determined, and the decision making that follows for the patient and his or her family is difficult, to say the least. It is essential that Speech Pathologists are well-versed on the advantages and disadvantages related to the placement of feeding tubes and the effects that non-oral nutrition may have on the patient and his or her family psychosocially. The risk of aspiration with oral intake, the quantity of oral intake a patient is exhibiting, and the quality of life for the patient in regards to eating and drinking are factors to consider when determining whether or not a feeding tube placement is appropriate for an individual.