The Dysphagia app by Northern Speech Services is a specialized mobile application designed as an educational tool for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), students, and support staff to explain swallowing disorders (dysphagia) to patients and their families.
Product Overview
The app features custom-designed, high-quality animations of normal and impaired swallowing physiology. The visual content is evidence-based, derived from the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP™) research, ensuring clinical relevance and accuracy. It is intended to help patients and families gain a clear, visual understanding of their specific swallowing impairment, which can improve buy-in and adherence to treatment plans.
Key Features and Capabilities
- Animated Swallowing Videos: Includes a set of 10 videos (2 depicting normal swallow function and 8 demonstrating specific physiological swallowing impairments).
- MBSImP™-Based Content: Animations accurately depict adult swallowing physiology and impairments based on the standardized MBSImP™ protocol.
- Detailed Playback Controls: Users can control the animation speed, pause the video, zoom in, and scroll frame-by-frame for detailed analysis and explanation.
- Educational Resources: Includes an overview of normal swallow function and links to other educational materials.
- Visual Tool Only: The app is a visual aid and does not include narration, requiring the clinician to provide the explanation.
Target Users and Use Cases
The primary target users are Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), particularly those specializing in medical settings and dysphagia management. Secondary users include SLP students, and direct support staff for training purposes. The main use case is Patient and Family Education to facilitate a better understanding of a dysphagia diagnosis and the rationale behind treatment recommendations.