Medical Nutrition Therapy for Swallowing Difficulty (Dysphagia)

1) How will you benefit from seeing a dietitian?
You will benefit from seeing a dietitian if you are unable to eat enough due to swallowing difficulty, and want to learn how to modify your diet for appropriate textured food and fluids type for safe swallowing, adequate nutrition and weight maintenance.

2) The objective of the medical nutrition therapy for swallowing difficulty
The objective is to help you understand your condition and equip you with the relevant nutrition information to modify your diet so that calories, protein and other nutrients are consumed safely and adequately, to prevent further muscle, fat and weight loss.

3) What is covered in the session?
During the consultation, the dietitian will perform a detailed nutritional assessment and collect the following information:

• Weight history
• Change in appetite and dietary intake
• Reasons for poor oral intake of food and drink
• Food Intolerance
• Food preferences
• Swallowing function
• Physical assessment of fat and muscle storage

The dietitian will then provide you with advice on:

• Meal preparation techniques as well as instructions on how to prepare nutritious and healthy meals
• Identifying and ensuring that you have adequate nutrients from food in the consistency that has been suggested by the Speech Therapist
• Provide individualised dietary recommendations of suitable modified texture consistency to meet your calorie and protein requirements.
• If necessary, the dietitian may also prescribe nutritional supplements to meet your energy and protein requirements.

Dietary intake and weight progress will be reviewed regularly and further nutrition recommendations and relevant information will be provided accordingly.