Clinical Swallowing Evaluations

A Clinical Swallowing Evaluation is a preliminary assessment conducted by a healthcare professional, like a speech-language pathologist, to determine how well someone swallows. It involves reviewing medical history, observing the person's eating and drinking behaviors, and assessing oral motor skills. The evaluator may try small tastes of food or liquids to observe swallowing abilities and identify any difficulties or risks such as choking or aspiration. The goal is to understand the person's swallowing function and recommend appropriate treatment or further testing if needed, ensuring safe and effective eating and drinking strategies.