Supraglottic Swallow

Supraglottic Swallow

Description: a compensatory swallowing strategy that helps close (adduct) vocal folds by holding one’s breath during a swallow to protect the airway.

Impairment targeted: Silent aspiration and/or delayed airway protection

Swallowing Stage: Pharyngeal

Example of Goal: Johnny will safely drink single cup sips of thin liquids without sign/symptoms of aspiration in 80% of opportunities given minimal verbal cues for use of strategies in order to increase ability to consume the least restrictive diet within two weeks.

Good for patients experiencing:

• swallowing delays

• neuro-sensory deficits

• posterior escape of the bolus

• Incomplete epiglottic inversion

• Vocal fold paralysis

• Arytenoids not approximating towards epiglottic petiole

• Residue in pyriforms and/or vallecula

• Bolus retrograde flow

Hierarchy cueing system: (min/moderate/max) visual, verbal, modeling, and physical cues 

Evidence-Based Practice: Supraglottic has been proven to be an effective compensatory swallowing strategy for patients with dysphagia challenges (Roth & Worthington, 2021).

Reference:

Roth, F. P., & Worthington, C. K. (2021). Treatment resource manual for speech-language pathology.