1. The Speech-Language Therapist Role within Spectrum Care

2. What does a Speech-Language Therapist do?
Support people with their communication
Safer eating and drinking

3. The communication partner
The environment
The communication partner
The person

4. Supporting Safer Eating and Drinking
Research suggests that up to 50% of people with an Intellectual Disability are likely to have some form of eating and drinking difficulty.
Many people with dysphagia go unrecognised or undiagnosed until a major event such as aspiration pneumonia or choking occurs.

5. Supporting Safer Eating and Drinking
Dysphagia Risk Factors
Behavioural Risk Factors
Health Risk Factors
E.g. Coughing, choking or gagging, pneumonia and/or chest infections, regurgitating, reflux.
E.g. Stuffing, grabbing, stealing and hiding food, eating non-food items, overconsuming.
E.g. Early onset aging and age related conditions e.g. dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, stroke. Weight loss, poor oral hygiene.