Swallowing Strategies

Swallowing Strategies

The strategies in this leaflet aim to help manage your swallowing difficulties, as recommended by your Speech and Language Therapist (SLT). Please do not use without seeking guidance and agreement from your SLT first. The strategies will be tailored to your needs and you will be shown the most appropriate strategies and how to do them.

Chin Lift

Why?

• If you have difficulty getting food/ liquid from the front to the back of your mouth
• If you have difficulty keeping food and drink in your mouth due to lip weakness.  

How?

• Put food or liquid in your mouth and gently lift your chin upwards toward the ceiling.  Do not tilt too far back. You should not feel pain in your neck.

Chin tuck

Why?

• If you have a delay in triggering your swallow
• If the movement of the base of your tongue to the back of your throat is reduced
• If you are at risk of food or drink going the wrong way (aspirated).

How?

• Place the food or drink into your mouth
• When you are ready to swallow bring your chin down towards your chest
• Swallow the food or drink keeping your chin tucked in towards your chest. Your SLT will advise you if you need to retain this posture for clearing swallows.
• Return your head back to resting position

Head tilt

Why?

• If you have weakness on one side of your mouth such as your lips or tongue
• If you have weakness on one side of your throat
• Toreducethe risk of aspiration from residue in your throat or mouth

How?

• Place the food or drink into your mouth
• When you are ready to swallow tilt your head towards your left/right (delete as appropriate) shoulder (whichever is your stronger side)
• Swallow in this position
• Once you have swallowed, return your head back to resting position

Head turn

Why?

• If you have weakness to one side of your throat or voice box
• Toreducethe risk of aspiration from residue in your throat
• It may help to open the entrance to your food pipe (oesophagus) in a timely way

How?

• Place the food or drink into your mouth
• When you are ready to swallow turn your head towards your left/ right (delete as appropriate) shoulder (whichever is your weaker side)

Supraglottic Swallow

Why?

• If you are at risk of food or drink going the wrong way (aspirated)
• To close your airway before and during your swallow.
• To clear residue left in your throat after you have swallowed.

How?

• Place the food or drink into your mouth
• Breathe in through your nose with your mouth closed and hold your breath.
• Keep holding your breath as you swallow.
• Cough as soon as you have swallowed.
• Swallow again.

Super-supraglottic Swallow

Why?

• If you are at risk of food or drink going the wrong way (aspirated)
• To close your airway before and during your swallow.
• To increase the pressure generated during the swallow which may reduce the amount of residue in your throat after swallowing.
• To clear residue left in your throat after you have swallowed.

How?

• Place the food or drink into your mouth
• Breathe in through your nose with your mouth closed and hold your breath.
• Keep holding your breath as you swallow hard, squeezing your tongue and throat muscles (like you’re bearing down).
• Cough as soon as you have swallowed.
• Swallow again.

Speech and Language Therapist:  ___________________________________ Contact Number: 01905 760475 or extension 33296

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything, please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to answer your questions and reassure you. 

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf, if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: [email protected]

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.

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