Speech & Swallowing Specialists of Florida, LLC

10/19/2022

Come join us for this great event to benefit a great cause.

Lots of fun for the entire family 💚💚

https://apdaparkinson.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=998

10/12/2022

Please join us to support this great cause 💚💚💚

07/29/2022

SLP and OT united to identify and treat lymphedema in Head and Neck Cancer and other clinical populations.

It is estimated that 97% of patients with Head/Neck cancer present with internal lymphedema. This can be present at the time of diagnosis, during, and after treatment.

Lymphedema is a chronic condition associated with symptom burden, increased incidence of dysphagia, dysphonia, difficulty breathing, and reduced quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer.

SLPs can identify internal lymphedema via the use of Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).

For questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at
+1 954-261-3181 or email us at
swallowspecialistsfl@gmail.com

Send a message to learn more

07/18/2022

I have known Andrea and Taylor for many years and they are amazing!!
Best feeding clinic in South Florida 🙌🏻

07/11/2022

Proud of my girls for donating their allowance this week to our team for this years’s Parkinson’s Optimism Walk 💚💚💚

Join us on October 30th 2022 for this fun event !

https://apdaparkinson.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=register.start&eventID=998&teamID=9622

06/28/2022

Join us !!!

06/22/2022

Bringing our services to the community through partnership with private practices near you !

Hoping to continue to expand, so that our patients can access swallow studies easily and without having to wait months or weeks 🙌🏻🙌🏻

06/17/2022

Internal Lymphedema

⚕️Reported in approx 60% of Head and Neck Cancer patients at the time of diagnosis.
⚕️Found in approx 90% of patients after treatment for Head and Neck Cancer.
⚕️Associated with difficulty speaking, swallowing, breathing, pain, discomfort, and reduced quality of life.

Can anything be done?
The answer is YES! Early identification and management is key to prevent advancement to fibrosis, which is irreversible.

As Swallowing Specialists, we are able to identify and stage internal lymphedema through the use of endoscopic video swallow tests.

We provide specialized treatment and have partnered with local outpatient clinics to establish a referral pathway, to help our patients get the treatment they need.

Contacts us for further information or to inquire about our services.

(954) 261-3181
swallowspecialistsfl@gmail.com

Pictured: Stages of internal lymphedema. As pictured, progression results in greater impairment and loss of function.

Source: Starmer HM, Drinnan M, Bhabra M, Watson LJ, Patterson J. Development and reliability of the revised Patterson Edema Scale. Clin Otolaryngol. 2021 Jul;46(4):752-757. doi: 10.1111/coa.13727. Epub 2021 Feb 15. PMID: 33529494.

06/15/2022

Your patients don’t have to wait weeks to have a swallow study.

Endoscopic video swallow studies provide a comprehensive evaluation of swallowing function and can be scheduled within DAYS.

https://swallowspecialistsfl.com/phsycian-offices/

Speech and Swallowing Specialists of Florida partners with Skilled Nursing Facilities, Outpatient Private Practices, Hospitals, and Physician Offices. Swallow Studies (FEES) can be completed at one…

06/10/2022

05/30/2022

What a fun way to support the ALS Foundation! I think I few organizations in mind and few CEOs that wouldn't mind getting soaked for a good cause.

Donate or register for this event by clicking on the link. Let me know if you have any questions (954) 261-3181.

I am getting soaked once again for ALS! Fundraising for the CEO Soak provides critical funds and awareness towards The ALS Association's mission. Help me make a splash in doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to make ALS a livable disease by making a donation today.

05/16/2022

What is a Swallowing Specialist (Part 3).
Please read the previous 2 posts for basic information on swallowing and swallowing disorders.

Let's pick up where with left off: Instrumental Swallow Evaluations!

Many patients with symptoms of difficulty swallowing need an instrumental exam, so that the swallowing specialist (speech therapist) can actually see what happens when they swallow, whether they are at risk for liquids/solids entering their airway, if there is food or liquid that remains in the throat after they swallow, if they benefit from diet modification, and to devise an individualized plan of care to improve their swallow function.

Instrumental swallow evaluations can be completed with x ray (Video swallow study aka Modified Barium Swallow) or with flexible endoscopy (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing aka FEES).Both types of tests are considered Gold Standards for diagnosing swallowing disorders. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

A modified Barium Swallow is a short , non invasive test, completed in an xray suite. The patient consumes various boluses of different consistencies and volumes of a contrast named Barium.

FEES is an instrumental exam that can be completed virtually anywhere. Patients are frequently assessed in their doctor's office, ALFs, nursing facilities, hospital, rehab facility, or even their home. Real food is utilized and there is no exposure to xray. FEES also allows the therapist to visualize if there is any tissue irritation or if their are abnormalities in your voice box that may be contributing to your swallow disorder.

Your therapist can help yout determine which test is best for you. If you have questions, we can also help you determine the best option based on your symptoms.

If FEES is the right test for you, we can arrange to complete your test within days of receiving an order from your physician.

If you have questions, please call us at (954) 261-3181.

We are happy to help!

04/13/2022

What is a Swallowing Specialist - Part 2
(scroll down to read Part 1)

When you have diffiuclty swallowing, which may include some of the symptoms highlighted in Part 1, your doctor may refer you to one of several specialists, depending on your reported symptoms and your medical history. These may include:

-Ear Nose Throat Doctor (ENT)
-Gastrointestinal Doctor (GI)
-Speech Therapist

Why a Speech Therapist, you may ask? "I don't have any speech problems".

The Speech Therapist's scope of practice is VERY broad and it includes, evaluation and treatment of language, speech, voice, and swallowing disorders. Some speech therapists are specialists in swallowing and swallowing disorders.

What happens during a swallow evaluation?

The speech therapist will ask about your symptoms, when they started, whether they are associated with weight loss, pulmonary issues, discomfort, etc. We also obtain a thorough medical and surgical history, conduct an assessment with foods and liquid of different consistencies, and may have you fill out a questionnaire about how your swallowing problem affects you and your quality of life.

Based on the results of the evaluation, we may recommend further assessment using instruments that allow us to see what is happening in your throat when you swallow. We can then observe if there is anything going "the wrong way" or sticking to your throat, and most importantly WHY this happens. This information is essential in helping you eat in a safer and more efficient way (i.e. swallow therapy).

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, where we will discuss instrumental assessments for the evaluation of swallowing disorders.

In the meantime, feel free to message us if you have any questions or need immediate help!

03/02/2022

We often get questions about when to recommend Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) for patients with dysphagia.

We created a convenient, easy to use resource last year to help you with your decision making.

It was so popular we posted it on our website. Click below to access it.
You can print it, post it on your clipboard, take a picture, or laminate it and distribute it to your staff.

Enjoy!

https://swallowspecialistsfl.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/flexible-endoscopic-evaluation-of-swallowing.pdf



&MBS

02/21/2022

https://www.instagram.com/p/CaQgiA-s7W2/?utm_medium=share_sheet

02/13/2022

The American Parkinson’s Disease Association APDA - South Florida Chapter, will be having its Annual Symposium March 19, 2022.

Register here:

https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/south-florida/upcoming-events-sf/2022-annual-south-florida-symposium/

02/12/2022

We enjoyed spending the morning with SLPs in Latin America, interested in performing FEES.
🇨🇴🇨🇴🇦🇷🇦🇷🇨🇷🇨🇷🇨🇱🇨🇱🇧🇷🇧🇷🇭🇳🇭🇳🇵🇷🇵🇷