Greater than 20 % of people over the age of fifty expertise dysphagia, additionally described as problem swallowing. Though dysphagia can happen at any age for a number of causes, after 30 muscle measurement and power start to slowly lower, together with muscle groups that assist with swallowing. The shortcoming to securely swallow can result in important well being points together with malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration (when meals or liquid enters the lungs) and recurrent pneumonia that may result in different critical well being circumstances.
Luckily, there are native providers that assist decide the reason for dysphagia. Logan Well being – Shelby’s latest set up of latest Shimadzu Digital Radiology tools contains the one innovated Fluoroscopy unit accessible within the area. Fluoroscopy is a kind of medical imaging process that reveals a steady X-ray picture on a monitor, very like an X-ray film. With this new know-how, Modified Barium Swallow Research (MBSS) can be found at Logan Well being – Shelby.
Throughout a Modified Barium Swallow Examine, the affected person’s mouth, throat and esophagus are examined by an authorized radiology practitioner assistant (RPA) and a speech language pathologist (SLP), utilizing the Fluoroscopy unit to establish and diagnose swallow impairments. One among Logan Well being – Shelby’s radiology technologists will information the affected person to the examination room and can present a chair to take a seat subsequent to the X-ray machine, or they could possibly be requested to face for the take a look at. The SLP will present meals and liquid combined with barium for the affected person to chew and swallow. Barium permits photographs of the mouth, throat and esophagus to be seen on the transportable TIMS unit, a cutting-edge stay video recording machine.
After the RPA and SLP consider the take a look at outcomes, they are going to decide if and why the affected person is experiencing issues swallowing. Primarily based on the result of the take a look at, sufferers will obtain both suggestions about what and the best way to eat and drink, an individualized swallowing plan or be referred to see a speech therapist to strengthen muscle groups.
“We’re very fortunate to have this superior tools accessible for sufferers with out the necessity to journey far for a similar therapy,” stated licensed speech language pathologist, Rebecca Oylear, MS, CCC-SLP.
Initially from Washington State, Rebecca joined Logan Well being in Conrad and Shelby in April 2023 to develop her medical follow and experience in rural well being care. She is a generalist within the discipline and works with each pediatrics and adults, overlaying inpatient rehabilitation, acute, outpatient rehabilitation and residential well being settings.
Sufferers who’re involved or experiencing swallowing issues, comparable to dry mouth, regurgitation, or coughing whereas consuming or ingesting are inspired to speak to their supplier to hunt a referral for speech remedy or a Modified Barium Swallow Examine. For extra questions, please name Logan Well being – Conrad at (406) 271-3211 or Logan Well being – Shelby at (406) 434-3200.
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