Assessing the Interrelationships Between the Respiratory and Gastroesophageal Systems
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association estimates that more than 15 million people in the United States have dysphagia. With dysphagia being that common, the need for an effective treatment plan is considerable. Furthermore, dysphagia is often correlated with many other medical conditions, including gastrointestinal conditions, nervous system disorders and respiratory disorders. These medical conditions can exacerbate the patient’s dysphagia and complicate the assessment process. Clinicians who fail to recognize the interrelationships between the respiratory and gastroesophageal systems may be under-treating the patient’s condition.

This recording will help give clinicians a clearer picture of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, their relationship to each other, and their impact on dysphagia management. Disease processes, with particular emphasis on aspiration pneumonia and gastroesophageal reflux disease, will be discussed along with strategies for clinical management. Finish with the skills to thoroughly assess and treat the whole patient, not just their symptoms.