Swallowing labs

Swallowing labs are specialized facilities where healthcare professionals, like speech-language pathologists, evaluate and treat swallowing difficulties, known as dysphagia. These labs use advanced equipment to observe the swallowing process in real-time, often through procedures like videofluoroscopic swallow studies. They assess how well a person swallows different textures of food and liquids, identifying any complications that might occur. The primary goal is to develop personalized treatment plans to improve swallowing safety and efficiency, ultimately enhancing the individual's quality of life and reducing the risk of choking or aspiration pneumonia.