Case Reports: Trial Dysphagia Interventions Conducted via Telehealth

Authors

  • Stacy Gallese Cassel Stockton University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2016.6193

Abstract

The diagnosis of dysphagia, defined as swallowing dysfunction or difficulty, is estimated to affect 40-60% of the institutionalized geriatric population, and is the leading cause of aspiration pneumonia, one of the primary contributors of geriatric mortality.  In the United States, statistics suggest that at least 50% of these individuals have limited access to treatment due to mobility, distance, and socioeconomic constraints.  While “tele-dysphagia intervention” – the delivery of dysphagia therapy services via telecommunications technology – may provide a solution, there is limited research investigating its validity or reliability.  The following three case reports of individuals successfully participating in trial tele-dysphagia therapy sessions lend credibility to this service delivery approach, and highlight the need for future research.

  

Author Biography

Stacy Gallese Cassel, Stockton University

Stacy Gallese Cassel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Stockton University.  Her clinical / research specialties are Medical Speech-Language Pathology and Telepractice.

Published

2016-12-15

How to Cite

Cassel, S. G. (2016). Case Reports: Trial Dysphagia Interventions Conducted via Telehealth. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 8(2), 71–76. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2016.6193

Issue

Section

Research