I am a speech language pathologist who has been working in long-term care facilities for the past five years. The majority of patients that I treat have dysphagia.

I have helped many patients regain the ability to chew and swallow their food and liquids without difficulty, however I have also been unable to help patients due to the limited number of therapy techniques that are currently available.

That was until I met a patient name Francis B., who was admitted to AristaCare at Alameda Center with a diagnosis of severe dysphagia. He was told in the hospital that it is unsafe for him to eat or drink because when he ate or drank, food and liquids were going into his airway and then into his lungs, which can cause pneumonia and possible death. Therefore, Francis was not allowed to eat by mouth and he was being fed through a tube from his stomach.

Traditional therapy did not work for him in the hospital. However, after coming to Alameda Care Center and receiving three weeks of VitalStim, Francis was able to eat regular food and drink liquids without difficulty.

I believe that traditional dysphagia therapy helps individuals safely swallow; however, when traditional therapy fails, VitalStim may work. It did for Francis B.

Sincerely,
Melissa Birmingham, M.A. CCC-SLP