DYSPHAGIA BLOG
Yvonne McClaren’s Story: Finding Joy, Confidence, and Connection Again
The latest episode of our Simply Modified Dysphagia Bite series welcomes someone whose story will stay with you long after the video ends. Yvonne McClaren is an author, chef, and advocate who has lived through the profound challenges of dysphagia after treatment for head and neck cancer.
Eating, Drinking and Swallowing - The Medical, the Social and the Emotional
Making Informed Mealtime Decisions. In this blog, we sit down with Chantel Kendle, speech pathologist and dysphagia advocate, to talk about choice. Chantel shares how clinicians can walk alongside people with dysphagia to support decision-making that is both informed and empowering.
Celebrating the Holiday Season with Dysphagia
The holiday season is synonymous with connection, joy, and, of course, indulgent meals shared with loved ones. But for individuals with dysphagia, this time of year can bring unique challenges. To help you along, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our Holiday Edition eBook—a specially curated collection of recipes and inspiration to help you embrace the festive spirit while enjoying delicious, dysphagia-friendly foods!
AAC Awareness Month: Making Mealtimes Communication-Friendly
Every October, AAC Awareness Month shines a light on the importance of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in supporting individuals who face communication challenges. For those living with dysphagia, mealtimes can be not only physically difficult but also isolating when communication options are limited. At Simply Modified, we believe that mealtimes should be empowering, not isolating. That’s why we’re excited to share our Mealtime Communication Boards, designed specifically to make communication during meals accessible and enjoyable.
Celebrating National Carers Week: The Unsung Heroes in Dysphagia Care
As we celebrate National Carers Week (October 13–19, 2024), it’s time to recognise and honour the extraordinary individuals who dedicate their lives to caring for others. This year’s theme, “Millions of Reasons to Care,” invites us to reflect on the countless reasons carers make such a profound impact on our society. It is a powerful reminder of how essential carers are in our community, especially when supporting those with complex needs like dysphagia.
Speech Pathology and Parkinson’s Disease
While the tremors and rigidity are commonly associated with Parkinson's, the speech and swallowing challenges often come as a surprise. Enter speech pathology – a critical field dedicated to understanding and treating communication and swallowing disorders.
Leading the way for dysphagia cookbooks
Adjustment, standardisation, restriction, variation. Who would have thought these words would ever come close to the description of a meal, a bite of food or dinner preparation? But, for many living with dysphagia (dis-fay-juh; swallowing impairment), this is their reality. Meals require careful adjustment to ensure that each mouthful is swallowed safely….
What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia (dis-fay-juh) // noun
Swallowing disorder
Humans swallow an average of 500-700 times per day. For someone living with dysphagia, this battle can take a huge toll on one’s attitude towards mealtimes…