The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic offers services to address swallowing impairments (sometimes called dysphagia) resulting from neurological disorders such as stroke, brain injury, degenerative disease processes, or head and neck cancers.

During the therapy sessions, the graduate student clinician may utilize a combination of compensatory techniques and direct treatment strategies to improve the safety of oral intake by reducing your risk for aspiration and maintaining quality of life.

The compensatory techniques target increased control of the swallow to protect the airway and reduce the risk of aspiration, while direct focuses on exercises to improve range of motion, coordination, and muscle strengthening to improve swallow function.

In addition to individualized swallow assessment and treatment, education and counseling for both the patient and family members, significant others, and caretakers is an integral part of the treatment process. 

Clinical Coordinator

Karen Bryant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Clinical Associate Professor