Button batteries may be small, but their impact can be devastating. In this episode, we speak with Prof. Kris Jatana about the serious and often hidden dangers of button battery ingestion in children. Found in everyday household items, these small batteries can cause severe injuries to the esophagus and surrounding structures within hours of ingestion. […]

​​What is it like to live with dysphagia due to ineffective esophageal motility (IEM)? In this episode, Adrienne shares her personal journey: from first noticing symptoms, through the path to diagnosis, and how the condition has evolved over time. We explore the deep impact of IEM on eating, drinking, social life, and quality of life. […]

Prof. Taher Omari, Physiologist, Principal Research Fellow and lead of the Swallowing Research Group at Flinders University in Adelaide (Australia) joins us to share insights on the new Leuven Consensus. This research project sets out recommendations for pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) disorders using high-resolution manometry with impedance (P-HRM-I). Taher explains: Literature that we […]

In this episode, we’re joined by Prof. Kathryn Steadman, who gave an excellent presentation at last year’s European Society for Swallowing Disorders conference in Münster, Germany. Her talk explored the question: Does swallowing tablets with an IDDSI Level 4 gel impact drug absorption? Because this topic isn’t discussed much – and Kathryn brings a lot […]

There are many rare diseases, where dysphagia can manifest. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Bendix Labeit, neurology physician and clinical scientist at University Hospital Düsseldorf in Germany to talk about dysphagia in one of these rare diseases: myositis. Together, we discuss: Literature that we discuss:

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Shaun Treweek about why so much health research still falls short. Shaun argues that big parts of health research is “bad” and does not bring the value to the evidence-base we need. As a leading expert in trials methodology he explains how we can change that and how … EP 41: Trials and errors – rethinking health research with Shaun Treweek Read More »

Curious about one of the gold standards in swallowing assessment? Join us for an insightful discussion about Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) with our guest Prof. Heather Starmer. This episode offers valuable perspectives for both those new to FEES and those looking to enhance their current practice, as Heather shares practical knowledge gained from … EP 40: Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) with Heather Starmer Read More »

This is not a regular episode, but we are just as excited to share it with you. We were contacted by Tabby, the science editor of Science at One, a program on IC Radio at Imperial College London. She invited us for an interview as part of a radio feature on dysphagia. It was our … EP 39: Perspectives on dysphagia with Tabby Taylor Buck Read More »

How do ENT specialists balance life-saving treatments with preserving essential functions like swallowing? In this episode we are joined by Prof. Laura Baijens, a leading expert in the field of laryngology and head and neck oncology surgery from the Netherlands. Laura has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people with dysphagia. We talk … EP 38: Saving lives vs. preserving swallowing with Laura Baijens Read More »

Dysphagia impacts countless individuals, and whether you’re a clinician, a student, or a researcher, you’re part of the collective effort to understand and address this complex condition. But are we all speaking the same language when it comes to defining dysphagia? Surprisingly, the field still lacks a unified definition. In this episode, we welcome three … EP 37: What dysphagia is with Debra Suiter, Giselle Carnaby & Martin Brodsky Read More »

In this episode, we build on our previous one by exploring the practical, clinical side of pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) as a treatment for people with dysphagia. This time we spoke to Rachel Coates, an experienced dysphagia clinician from Ireland who incorporates PES into her daily practice. Rachel shares her insights into how PES works, … EP 36: How PES works in clinical practice with Rachel Coates Read More »

We are excited to share this episode about pharyngeal electrical stimulation with you. Our guest is Shaheen Hamdy, Professor of Neurogastroenterology at the University of Manchester in the UK. In addition to his academic role, he is the co-founder and chief scientific officer of Phagenesis, the company behind Phagenyx – a treatment for dysphagia using … EP 35: Pharyngeal electrical stimulation with Shaheen Hamdy Read More »

This is part two of our conversation with Prof. Joan Arvedson. In our last episode, we laid the foundation for understanding feeding and swallowing. In this episode, Joan will share her insights on the treatment approaches for infants with feeding and swallowing difficulties, and we explore the essential role that parents play in the therapeutic … EP 34: Expert insights in pediatric feeding and swallowing with Joan Arvedson – Part 2 Read More »

Drinking is one of the very first activities that newborns engage in, not only shaping their daily routine but also fostering crucial communication and interaction between them and their caregivers. Developing skills such as sucking, swallowing, and coordinating these with breathing is vital, but what happens when a baby struggles with these essential tasks? We … EP 33: Expert insights in pediatric feeding and swallowing with Joan Arvedson – Part 1 Read More »

Did you know that dysphagia can occur not only in people with head and neck cancer, but also in people with cancers outside the anatomical swallowing regions? This is an area that is often overlooked in clinical practice and is also an under-researched topic. To shed light on this important issue, we interviewed Prof. Ciarán … EP 32: Dysphagia beyond head and neck cancer with Ciarán Kenny Read More »

It was about time we had a conversation about dysphagia in people with head and neck cancer (HNC). And this time our guest was none other than Prof Katherine A Hutcheson from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Kate answered all our questions about HNC-related dysphagia and its presentation, prehabilitation and instrumental assessment … EP 31: Dysphagia in head and neck cancer with Kate Hutcheson Read More »

Welcome to a new episode, this time with Prof. Rainer Dziewas, a neurologist and expert in the field of swallowing and swallowing disorders. For this episode, we asked Rainer to explain how swallowing works on a neurophysiological level because we believe that for dysphagia clinicians like us, understanding the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms is essential for … EP 30: Neurophysiology of swallowing with Rainer Dziewas Read More »

Join us in this episode as we explore the world of pediatric feeding disorders in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with Dr. Pamela Dodrill, a Pediatric Feeding Specialist. Together with her co-authors, Pamela developed a consensus definition and conceptual framework for pediatric feeding disorders and she was part of the FOIS-P team, the Functional … EP 29: Pediatric Feeding Disorders in the NICU with Pamela Dodrill Read More »

As clinicians working in dysphagia management, providing guidance on different consistencies to support our patients in their rehabilitation process and daily life is a fundamental aspect of our clinical responsibilities. However, effective communication about these consistencies is a recurring challenge for both patients and clinicians. In previous episodes, you have already heard us talk about … EP 28: The IDDSI framework with Peter Lam Read More »

In this episode we speak to Dr. Paula Leslie and explore the ethical considerations that shape patient care. Paula discusses the delicate balance between benefits and risks that must be maintained specifically in the management of dysphagia. She also provides insights into real-life ethical dilemmas and shares global perspectives that influence our clinical practice as … EP 27: Exploring medical ethics in dysphagia management with Paula Leslie Read More »