Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
Using principles of behavioral neuro-rehabilitation and biofeedback, we specialise in instrumental diagnostics and intensive rehabilitation programmes for even the most challenging of clinical cases. We offer treatment in the following forms:
Clinical consultation
You may just need a one-off consultation session to help you improve the safety and efficiency of your swallowing. This may include provision of education, practice of compensatory swallowing strategies, or follow-up after the completion of a home therapy programme.
Swallowing treatment
Swallowing treatment is individualized for each patient based on his or her swallowing physiology and biomechanics. We have access to variety of different therapy and instrumental techniques to maximize your rehabilitation potential.
Biofeedback – uses the principles of motor learning and neural plasticity to enhance skill training in swallowing. We use biofeedback software such as the BiSSKiT (Biofeedback in Strength and Skill Training) software that was developed in our lab, as well as high resolution manometry to improve swallowing pressures and the sequencing of swallowing.
Therapy exercises – targeting a permanent change to swallowing physiology.
Compensatory strategies – adaptive behaviors that are used when eating and drinking that provide an immediate but short-term change to swallowing physiology and efficiency.
Treatment delivery options
Following a full diagnostic evaluation, you and your clinician will develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Swallowing sessions
We provide single swallowing therapy sessions according to your treatment recommendations or your availability. Some people with more mild dysphagia may only require a few sessions over several weeks to achieve their goals.
Swallowing intensive (1-2x/day for one or more weeks)
Intensive swallowing treatment is provided once or twice daily for 5 days/week. You may require one or two weeks depending on your progress. Some people have a two-week block, then a break, then come back for another block after a break.
Aphasia (aquired language impairment disorder)
Treatment Delivery Options
Aphasia therapy is individualized for each patient based on his or her specific language needs, communication goals, and the nature of their linguistic breakdown. Therapy may be impairment based, targeting the underlying linguistic impairment; functional-based, utilizing communication techniques for a more immediate improvement in communication ability and increase participation in a specific situation(s); or a combination of the two. Conversation training to help people with aphasia and their conversational partners have more successful and enjoyable conversations is also offered.
Therapy is usually provided in a clinic context. However, depending on the patient’s goals, a treatment programme may include community-based sessions. Therapy tools, such as language apps, may also be recommended for use in the home between therapy sessions to increase intensity and dosage of therapy in line with the principles of neuroplasticity.
Aphasia-LIFT Programme
The Rose Centre Rehabilitation Clinics partners with Speech Therapy Solutions Ltd to provide a version of the Aphasia Language Impairment and Functioning Therapy (LIFT) programme for people with aphasia post stroke or head injury.
LIFT is an evidenced based intensive rehabilitation programme for aphasia that is provided in a clinic and group context. The aim of the programme is to improve the severity of the person’s language impairment, make gains in the areas of life participation, and positively enhance the person’s communication environment.
The programme is suitable for any type of classification of aphasia and with the presence of apraxia of speech. It is most beneficial for those who are 3 months or more (years) post-stroke.
Neuroplasticity principles, repetition, intensity and salience, are integral to the programme. Participants receive therapy for 6 hours a week for 8 weeks (48 hours in total). This formula has demonstrated longer lasting effects of the treatment (Rodrigeuz 2015).
Motor-speech Therapy
Motor-speech therapy is individualized for each patient based on his or her motor-speech impairment profile, underlying neurological cause of their impairment and their communication goals. Evidence-based techniques to improve or maintain speaking ability, or slow the deterioration of speech, are implemented in a clinic based context.
