Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, poses serious health risks including aspiration and malnutrition. This foundational book explores the anatomy, physiology, and neurological control of swallowing, along with various causes of dysphagia across the lifespan. Readers learn to conduct clinical and instrumental assessments, including FEES and videofluoroscopy. It presents rehabilitation techniques such as compensatory strategies, diet modification, and therapeutic exercises. Theory and evidence-based practices are integrated to guide clinical decision-making. Ideal for students and professionals in speech-language pathology and dysphagia management.
Rhian Smith is a clinical educator and researcher specializing in swallowing physiology and dysphagia management. Her work includes investigating biomechanical and neural control of swallowing across various patient populations. Rhian has collaborated with hospitals to improve multidisciplinary care models for feeding and swallowing disorders. She publishes extensively on assessment tools and evidence-based interventions in dysphagia therapy. Her teaching portfolio spans postgraduate courses in speech-language pathology and interprofessional rehabilitation sciences.