Society for the Physically Disabled

Dysphagia Management Programme 

The prevalence of dysphagia is relatively high among the elderly and stroke survivors. A survey conducted by SPD in 2007 among step-down care institutions in the community revealed a growing demand for dysphagia management in the community.

• What is Dysphagia and its common symptoms?
  • Dysphagia is described as a difficulty in swallowing. When a person has a swallowing difficulty, there is a danger that food or drink may go down the respiratory tract instead of the food pipe. This can sometimes cause lung infection. People with swallowing difficulties are also at risk of malnutrition and/or dehydration. Some common symptoms of dysphagia include:
  • • Excessive spillage of food/drink from the mouth
  • • Frequent coughing during or after meal
  • • Wet or ‘gurgle’ voice quality after swallowing food or drink
  • • Person may complain of pain or a feeling of something being stuck in the throat
  • • Frequent occurrences of lung infections.

Objectives of the Programme

The Dysphagia Management Programme (DMP) is a community-based swallowing management programme. It aims to:

• help people with disabilities and the elderly with swallowing dysfunctions to regain or improve their swallowing ability.
• equip both formal caregivers such as doctors, nurses or healthcare attendants and informal caregivers such as family members or domestic workers with the relevant knowledge and training to identify and provide better care for the charges under their care.

• Who Will Benefit
  • The DMP benefits people with swallowing difficulties due to:
  • • any condition that weakens or damages the muscles and nerves used for swallowing. This includes stroke, traumatic brain injury, head and neck trauma, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy.
  • • degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease.
  • • congenital defects or underdevelopment of oral and nasal structures such as cleft lip and palate.
  • • ageing, which is associated with physiological and structural changes that affect the process of swallowing.

Nature of Service

DMP offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual medical conditions or institution needs.

• Screening and assessment
• Direct intervention through conventional methods or electrical stimulation
• Family/Caregiver education and consultation
• Training and consultancy for step-down care institutions such as nursing homes, day activity centres and other facilities

Provided by speech therapists trained in dysphagia management, this programme will be offered to

• people with disabilities and elderly people, either at the SPD Ability Centre or at his/her residence.
• institutions that serve people with disabilities and the elderly such as nursing homes and day rehabilitation centres.

Fees and Transport

This programme is subsidised by the Tote Board Community Healthcare Fund and fees are charged at affordable rates. Different service packages are available depending on medical conditions and needs.

SPD also provides an affordable and reliable transportation service with its fleet of specially adapted vehicles for those who have difficulty using public transport. This service is subjected to availability.

Admission and Appointments

Please complete the SPD Referral Form and e-mail it to us at information@spd.org.sg, or fax at 6323 7008, or mail it to:

Dysphagia Management Programme Society for the Physically Disabled No.2 Peng Nguan Street SPD Ability Centre Singapore 168955

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For more information, please contact:

• Ms Lai Yoke Lan 6587 7606 LAI_Yoke_Lan@spd.org.sg

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