Case Reports: Trial Dysphagia Interventions Conducted via Telehealth

Abstract

The diagnosis of dysphagia, defined as swallowing dysfunction or difficulty, is estimated to affect 40-60% of the institutionalized geriatric population, and is the leading cause of aspiration pneumonia, one of the primary contributors of geriatric mortality.  In the United States, statistics suggest that at least 50% of these individuals have limited access to treatment due to mobility, distance, and socioeconomic constraints.  While “tele-dysphagia intervention” – the delivery of dysphagia therapy services via telecommunications technology – may provide a solution, there is limited research investigating its validity or reliability.  The following three case reports of individuals successfully participating in trial tele-dysphagia therapy sessions lend credibility to this service delivery approach, and highlight the need for future research.