I'm a speech-language pathologist & co-founder of Tactus. Tactus offers evidence-based apps for aphasia therapy and lots of free resources, articles, and education - like this newsletter. Sign up to get my updates 1-2 times a month.
🤔 The exercise that’s tricky to spell… and to teach
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Hello Reader, Remember the first time you really noticed your own swallow in school? The lift, the forward motion… it seemed simple—until you learned just how complex it actually is. 😵💫 As clinicians, we know that swallowing is anything but simple. Fortunately, we have many tools at our disposal, and advances in technology are making it easier than ever to apply them effectively. 👉 In case you missed it, our latest blog breaks down the major dysphagia exercises, the research behind them, and the best ways to implement them: What SLPs Need to Know: Dysphagia Exercises. 🎯 ✨Spotlight: The Mendelsohn Maneuver ⤴️Some exercises stand the test of time. One that’s just as tricky to spell as it is to teach is the Mendelsohn maneuver. Introduced decades ago, it’s still a go-to for targeting hyolaryngeal movement, pharyngeal pressure, UES opening, and esophageal pressure (Khemlani et al., 2024). But there’s a reason it challenges clinicians as well as patients. For us, it's tough to:
sEMG can help, but most clinicians don't have access to it. And even when it's available in the clinic, it rarely follows the patient home. 🤩 That’s why we’re excited to introduce our newest treatment in the Tactus Virtual Rehab Center: The Mendelsohn Maneuver. 🎥 See it in action here: Learn more about how it works.
Here's what you'll love: ✨ Clear demonstration video (pause, rewind, practice together) Now you can focus on coaching their technique while we handle the logistics. And your patients get the support they need between sessions. 💫 ✅ Want to try it out? Get free access today!With your 21-day trial of the Virtual Rehab Center, you’ll unlock: 👉 Start your 21-day free trial now. No obligation, cancel anytime. Whether you’re brushing up on the research or looking to bring more tech into your practice, these resources make dysphagia intervention more effective and home programs easier. Thanks for everything you do to help your patients rebuild confidence and safety with swallowing. Here’s to taking a bite out of the challenges of dysphagia therapy — together. 😉 Megan P.S. The Virtual Rehab Center now includes 2 interactive dysphagia treatments and 9 high-quality swallowing education handouts, with more on the way! 🚀 |
Megan @ Tactus Therapy
I'm a speech-language pathologist & co-founder of Tactus. Tactus offers evidence-based apps for aphasia therapy and lots of free resources, articles, and education - like this newsletter. Sign up to get my updates 1-2 times a month.
Hi Reader, It’s November... and before you get wrapped up in the holidays, I’d like to give you a gift! 🎁 Get 50% off your first month (or $10 off your annual membership) of the Tactus Virtual Rehab Center when you join by November 15. That means after your 3-week free trial, you’ll get an extra month for just $10! 🎉 That's 7 weeks of full access for just $10! 🤯 You’ve heard about it, but you might still be wondering, "What exactly is the Tactus Virtual Rehab Center?" Check out this video for...
Hello Reader, We all know that instrumental swallowing assessments like the MBSS and FEES are the gold standard for assessing anatomy and physiology, so is it even worth doing a bedside assessment? 🤔 Absolutely! Your bedside skills still matter more than you think. The clinical swallow evaluation (or CSE as it's known, since beds aren't always involved) is our first step in assessing and diagnosing dysphagia. It's how we learn how dysphagia is affecting our patient and if an instrumental...
If you’ve ever learned an instrument, you’ve heard: “Don’t forget to practice!” 🎷🎻Practice may not make perfect, but it does make progress. Speech therapy works the same way. Your sessions with a therapist help you learn new skills, but the real magic happens when you practice at home and use those skills in real life, like ordering coffee or chatting with friends. 💪✨ 📚 Why Practice Matters Research shows people who practice at home make bigger gains than those who only work in sessions (Des...