Proposals appropriate for submission to this topic area include normal and abnormal swallowing from 18 years to senescence, including research, clinical, and instrumental assessment, treatment or management approaches, and service delivery access related to swallowing and swallowing disorders in adults. This topic also includes interprofessional efforts to integrate competencies and/or advance collaborative care outcomes in swallowing and swallowing disorders.

Research

• Translational, applied, or implementation research related to swallowing/feeding and associated disorders from 18 years to senescence
• Transdisciplinary research and clinical practice models in dysphagia/Interprofessional and team issues specifically related to swallowing in adults

Professional Education

• Normal swallowing physiology in adults across the age span
• Dysphagia characterization across adult populations (e.g. neurodegenerative, acute neurologic etiologies, critical care, non-malignant esophageal/gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory conditions, intellectual and development disabilities, etc.)
• Preventative models of care for dysphagia in adults
• Screening and diagnosis of dysphagia and related disorders in adults
• Instrumental assessments of swallowing in adults
• Technology as it relates to swallowing and swallowing disorders (e.g. mobile applications, devices, software), along with innovative service delivery models through telepractice technology for adults
• Behavioral management of dysphagia and airway disorders from 18 years through senescence
• Pharmacological, surgical, and other non-behavioral interventions for dysphagia in adults
• Nutritional management/support of patients with dysphagia in adults
• Palliative care and quality of life issues related to dysphagia in adults
• Ethical issues specific to dysphagia in adults
• Outcomes, efficacy, and effectiveness related to the treatment of dysphagia and related disorders in adults
• Complex medical issues and swallowing function in adults across all care settings
• Professional education issues specific to adults with swallowing disorders
• Education, training and supervision issues including interprofessional education, specific to swallowing and associated disorders in adults
• Interprofessional practice considerations or applications specific to the area of adult swallowing
• Cultural considerations, including healthcare disparities and access to care, specifically related to adult swallowing
• Administrative, legislative and regulatory issues related to dysphagia in adults
• Oral health as it relates to dysphagia management and pneumonia prevention in adults
• Psychosocial aspects of dysphagia and related management in adults
• Research/clinical/industry collaborations for rapid clinical translations for adults with swallowing disorders

Related Topics

Proposals that include this topic but have a primary focus on:  

• Swallowing disorders associated with head, neck and esophageal cancers should be submitted to the Head and Neck Cancer Practices and Considerations topic area.
• Swallowing and feeding disorders from birth to 18 years of age should be submitted to the Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing topic area.
• Swallowing and feeding disorders as a result of craniofacial disorders should be submitted to the Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Disorders topic area.
• Feeding and swallowing disorders associated with myofunctional disorders should be submitted to Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing topic area.
• Speech disorders associated with orofacial myofunctional disorders should be submitted to Speech Sound Disorders in Children or Motor Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan topic areas.
• Tracheostomy and ventilator dependence in adults with impacts on laryngeal and voice function should be submitted to the Voice and Upper Airway Practices and Considerations topic area.