Swallowing Rehabilitation 

Offering evidence-based swallowing evaluation and treatment, including:

• thorough cranial nerve and clinical assessments

• fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) procedures to assess swallowing physiology objectively and make individualized treatment recommendations

• individualized exercise programs to target the specific swallowing muscles affected and improve swallowing safety and efficiency

• surface electromyography (sEMG) for visual biofeedback of muscle recruitment during swallowing strength and endurance training exercises

• VitalStim neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy to re-educate the swallowing muscles in conjunction with pharyngeal exercises or while swallowing specific textures of food/liquid 

• the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP), an intensive swallowing 'boot camp' program for patients with severe chronic dysphagia 

• Myofascial release, a form of manual therapy  for patients with fibrosis-related dysphagia (e.g., scar tissue post radiation to the head/neck) or muscle tension dysphagia or dysphonia to restore motion to connective tissue

• expiratory and inspiratory muscle strength training (EMST/IMST) to improve functioning of exhalation and inhalation musculature to target cough strength and airway protection during swallowing

• education of individualized compensatory strategies and postural techniques if applicable to immediately improve safety and quality of life in the presence of physiological impairments