Resources for people with dysphagia & those who care for them (collection #2)

Here are three more dysphagia resources I recommend for basic information and practical tips on eating safely and with enjoyment.

Dysphagia - This web page from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders in the U.S. provides a basic, easy-to-understand overview of dysphagia in a question and answer format. It also includes a clear diagram of anatomy involved in swallowing.

A Manual for People Living with ALS - ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of Motor Neuron Disease (MND).  A Manual for Living with ALS is available as a free PDF from the ALS Society of Canada. It includes a section on adapting to swallowing problems and maintaining good nutrition (pages 36  through 41) and a page of recommended cook books (page 81) as well as a section on maintaining oral health (pages 55 through 57).

Although some of the manual's information is region-specific (e.g. community resources), the content on food and nutrition will be helpful no matter where one lives.  

Puréed Foods for Swallowing Problems (PDF) - Wendy J. Dahl, PhD RD, developed this clear, concise resource that describes the characteristics of the ideal pureed food and explains how to prepare it as well make meals tasty and appealing. Dr. Dahl also is the author of Textured Modified Foods: A Manual for Food Production for Long Term Care, 2nd Edition.