The Essentials: Dysphagia and Parkinson's Disease
Presented by Angela Mansolillo
Non-Financial: Angela Mansolillo has no competing non-financial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
Dysphagia is a symptom, not a disease unto itself. Difficulty swallowing can be a symptom of a wide variety of medical diagnoses. The underlying diagnosis is a critical factor to consider when developing a treatment approach. Dysphagia clinicians must guard against a “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead develop an understanding of the causative factors and pathophysiology of swallowing disorders in each disease process.
This course will discuss dysphagia in the setting of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The characteristics of dysphagia in PD, including the role of dopamine in feeding and swallowing, will be reviewed. Specific considerations for assessment of patients with PD will be discussed, including breathing/swallow coordination, potential for cough, and aspiration risk factors. The evidence base for treatment strategies specific to PD will be examined, with focus on respiratory training and sensory enhancements. The role of exercise and specific skill training in management of PD will be also be discussed. Participants will be provided with an opportunity for problem-solving through case review.
This course is appropriate for dysphagia clinicians working in medical settings, including acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care.
Meet your instructor
Angela Mansolillo
Angela Mansolillo is a speech-language pathologist and board-certified specialist in swallowing disorders with more than 25 years of experience. She is currently a senior speech-language pathologist at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she provides evaluation and treatment services for adults and…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Parkinson's Disease: What the Dysphagia Clinician Needs to Know
This chapter will provide an overview of Parkinson’s disease for the dysphagia clinician. The pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease, the role of rigidity and other neurological changes, and the involvement of the GI system will be discussed in order to provide the clinician with an understanding of the relationship between swallowing and PD.
2. Dysphagia in Parkinson’s Disease
This chapter will describe dysphagia as it manifests in Parkinson’s disease. Signs and symptoms of dysphagia will be reviewed, and factors specific to assessment will be discussed, including breathing/swallow coordination, potential for cough, and aspiration risk factor identification. The role of dopamine in regulation of feeding and swallowing will also be reviewed.
3. Intervention Strategies
This chapter will provide a discussion of the evidence base for treatment strategies for dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease. Intervention techniques that have been specifically targeted for patients with Parkinson’s disease will be highlighted, including respiratory training, sensory enhancements, compensatory strategies, and exercise.
More courses in this series
The Essentials: Dysphagia and Parkinson's Disease
Angela Mansolillo
The Essentials: Dysphagia and Cervical Spine Issues
Angela Mansolillo
The Essentials: Dysphagia and COPD
Angela Mansolillo
The Essentials: Dysphagia and CVA
Angela Mansolillo
The Essentials: Dysphagia and Dementia
Angela Mansolillo
The Essentials: Dysphagia and End-of-Life Patients
Angela Mansolillo
The Essentials: Dysphagia and Head and Neck Cancer
Angela Mansolillo
The Essentials: Dysphagia and Neuromuscular Disease
Angela Mansolillo
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