How Safe is Your Swallow?

It is essential that carers of people with learning difficulties have an awareness of whether the person they are supporting is able to eat and drink safely, as difficulties with swallowing can lead to serious medical complications. People with delayed swallow are at greater risk of choking; this can include silent aspiration, where, despite a lack of obvious choking, food passes into the lungs rather than the stomach. This can cause serious chest infections and in some cases can even result in death. This resource encourages timely referrals to speech and language therapists and dietitians, thereby reducing the risk of choking and improving mealtime experiences for people with delayed swallows. This guidance booklet and assessment tool is designed for anyone who supports adults with learning disabilities to eat and drink - both non-qualified and qualified carers. This support can range from general observation at meal or snack times, to manually encouraging someone with cutlery to feed themself, to feeding someone all of their meals and drinks.The booklet outlines the normal swallowing process and outlines what can go wrong if someone has a delayed or absent swallow, as well as signs to look out for. The CD-rom features an assessment tool that can be used with individuals with learning disabilities to determine how safe the person's swallow is and whether referral is needed to a speech and language therapist or dietitian for therapeutic advice. Regular use of the assessment tool will improve carers' observation skills regarding what constitutes a safe and unsafe swallow.