New Dysphagia eLearning for Healthcare Professionals

Blue Stream Academy is pleased to announce the release of a new Dysphagia eLearning course, now available on:

GP eLearning and Management Platform
Health and Social Care eLearning and Management Platform
Hospice eLearning and Management Platform
Private and Urgent Care eLearning and Management Platform

This dysphagia training course has been created as an introduction to dysphagia care and support. This course equips learners with the essential knowledge to meet the requirements for Levels 2 and 3 of the Eating, Drinking, and Swallowing Competency Framework (EDSCF), as established by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

However, staff who are caring for people with dysphagia should also undertake practical training on how to support a person with dysphagia, first aid, and how to write a care plan.

What is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is the medical name for swallowing difficulties.
Dysphagia usually occurs due to an underlying condition an individual has rather than being a condition in its own right.
For an individual with dysphagia, swallowing becomes difficult because the muscles used for chewing and swallowing become weak or uncoordinated.
Food and drink can therefore go into the lungs instead of into the stomach - often known as ‘going down the wrong way’.
This can cause serious chest infections such as aspiration pneumonia and other health complications.

Causes of Dysphagia

Dysphagia can occur at any age. It is usually caused by another health condition.

Causes may include:

some medications, such as antipsychotics
having a learning disability
a cleft lip and palate in babies
heartburn and acid reflux, which may affect children or adults with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
respiratory problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
progressive neurological conditions.

Conditions that affect the nervous system or brain, such as:

cerebral palsy
a stroke
dementia
multiple sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
motor neurone disease.

Cancer, such as:

mouth cancer
oesophageal cancer
cancer affecting the head and neck region.

Dysphagia in Infants, Children and Young People

Infants, children and young people with neurodisability and those born prematurely are most likely to be at risk of dysphagia. However, feeding difficulties can also occur in typically developing children.

How Does Dysphagia Affect Quality of Life?

Dysphagia can have a major impact on an individual’s quality of life and wellbeing. For example:

the person may not be able to enjoy the everyday social interaction that often comes with sharing food and drink (for example, family meals, visits to pubs and cafes, etc.)
the person may be unable to independently choose what and when to eat and drink, and who with
the person may have difficulties with the social aspects of eating and drinking. For example:

the person may only be able to eat/drink without companions
they may cough or choke throughout the meal
they may have difficulties remaining clean and tidy at meals.

Part of managing dysphagia is supporting the person to lessen the impact the condition on their wellbeing.

Signs and Symptoms of Dysphagia:

Coughing or choking when eating or drinking.
Recurring chest infections.
Voice sounding gurgly, bubbly, or wet after eating or drinking.
Food or drink coming out of the person’s nose or mouth.
Runny nose or eyes during or immediately after meals.

For a full list of Dysphagia signs and symptoms and to gain an understanding of dysphagia, complete our new Dysphagia care training course.

Accessing this Course

Blue Stream Academy’s online courses have been developed specifically for healthcare professionals across a range of settings (ranging from GP practices to care homes, and hospices to private and urgent care providers).

Existing customers can access this course by going to Manage Profiles and adding our new dysphagia awareness training resource to their staff profiles. Upon successful completion of this course your team will receive a CPD accredited certificate.

Not a Blue Stream Academy customer?

Get in touch with our team for more information on how your team can increase their knowledge and skills through a high-quality training provider. Blue Stream Academy offers statutory and mandatory training, alongside extensive awareness courses and the care certificate programme, with no software required.

New Dysphagia eLearning Course - Out Now