CNA112 - Swallowing Disorders (0.5 HR)
The direct care worker will better understand dysphagia by recognizing the signs and symptoms of the disorder and actions to utilize with the dysphagia patient/resident/client.
Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing. It is derived from the Greek dys meaning bad or disordered, and phago meaning eat. Dysphagia is a sensation that suggests difficulty in the passage of solids or liquids from the mouth to the stomach. Painful swallowing is called odynophagia, but technically odynophagia is dysphagia. It is important to distinguish between the two, however, because the causes may be entirely different. When abnormalities of nerves or muscles that control the throat are the cause of dysphagia, food or liquid can enter the trachea, leading to bacterial infection of the lungs known as aspiration pneumonia.
Objectives:
1. Describe dysphagia.
2. Explain the occurrence of dysphagia and the problems that can result.
3. Describe causes of dysphagia.
4. Explain aspiration pneumonia.
5. List the signs and symptoms of dysphagia.
6. Discuss approaches that can be taken with most dysphagic residents.
7. Discuss fluid balance and the individual with dysphagia.
Continuing Education Credits: 0 contact hours Iowa BON #335; 0 contact hours CA Board of Nursing CEP 14033; 0 contact hours CE Broker # 50-4572 Florida and District of Columbia; 0 contact hours for Social Work State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. License No. 159.001315; 0 contact hours for Physical Therapy State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. License No. 216.000284; 0 contact hours for Occupational Therapy State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. License No. 224.000164; 0.5 CE hours for certified nursing assistants; long term care department heads; and other health care disciplines.