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 approaches, and service delivery issues related to persons with dysphagia. Interprofessional education, practice, and/or research that addresses the implementation of interprofessional competencies within curricular or practice models, or the evaluation of collaborative care outcomes specific to swallowing disorders should be included in this topic area.

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 specific to swallowing and associated disorders in adults
• 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 Issues in Head and Neck Cancer Issues 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 with Normal Hearing 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 Issues topic area.
• Cultural considerations, health disparities and access to services related to adult swallowing should be submitted to the Equity and Cultural–Linguistic Diversity topic area.