Treatment of dysphagia

1. What are techniques used for treating dysphagia and preventing aspiration?
2. When does swallowing function usually return in brainstem strokes?
3. What is the cause of nasal speech?

Answer:
1. Non-oral feeding (does not treat dysphagia), changes in posture and head position, elevation of HOB, feeding in upright position, chin tuck, turning head to paretic side, diet modifications.
2. 3 weeks.
3. Caused by failure of the soft palate to close off the nasal cavity from the oral cavity or incomplete closure of the hard palate. Uplifting of the soft palate prevents nasal speech.