Registered Dietitians and Speech-Language Pathologists: An Important Partnership in Dysphagia Management

Dysphagia can be caused by a number of conditions, including neurological disorders or damage, esophageal disorders or damage, cancers of the head and neck, and the treatment of head/neck cancers. The registered dietitians (RDs) is an important part of the health care team in the treatment of patients with dysphagia. They perform the nutrition assessment and develops a nutrition care plan to ensure that each patient's nutrition and hydration needs are met. In the care of patients with dysphagia, the RD works closely with the speech-language pathologists (SLPs), who assess patients' ability to swallow. Together, they determine appropriate food and fluid consistencies that can be safely consumed by the patient to optimize food and fluid intake. As partners in patient care, it is vital that the RD understand the education and expertise of the SLP. Here, Heiss et al describe the education and scope of practice of the SLP and discuss how the SLP and RD can work together to best serve the needs of patients with dysphagia.