So You're Having Trouble Swallowing
- The essential guide to basic swallowing, swallowing disorders, and navigating care.
- For patients and loved ones of those who have swallowing impairments.
- Learn more about your swallowing.
- Discover where you can find help.
- Know which questions to ask .
- Advocate for the best care.
- Take the right steps towards enjoying meals with your family once again.
WHERE TO BUY
So you’re having trouble swallowing.
You feel anxiety during mealtime or avoid eating in public. Maybe you’ve been told that you need a feeding tube, will never eat or drink again, or can only consume thick liquids and chopped up foods.
Guess what? You’re not alone.
Far from it.
It’s estimated that over ten million Americans are evaluated for swallowing disorders (dysphagia) each year. But if this is so common, why does it feel so lonely, scary, and frustrating?
So You’re Having Trouble Swallowing dives into the facts and frustrations of dysphagia and dysphagia therapy. Theresa Richard, author and dysphagia expert, is a speech-language pathologist who is board certified in swallowing and swallowing disorders.
She is also a life-long advocate for her son and brother, both who live with swallowing disorders.
This book will teach you the essential information about swallowing, testing, treatment options, and how to advocate for the best care available.
Dysphagia is far more than “just a disorder.” It’s a life-altering diagnosis that impacts social gatherings, holidays, family meals, and freedom. It can lead to hospitalizations, high medical costs, and depression. It steals a part of your identity and robs you of one of life’s greatest joys.
But it doesn’t have to.
Use this book to guide your questions. Find the right information to charge your advocacy. Most importantly, learn through Theresa’s expertise and personal journey to get several steps closer to enjoying meals with your family once again.
“So rarely do you get to embrace and endorse a text that is truly for patients and comes from the soul…This book helps detail what is available in the evaluation and care of patients with swallowing, what patients/families should look for or avoid, and where to find resources. More importantly, this information is offered to the reader in an easy to digest, understandable format!
Kudos to Theresa for offering us an essential resource.”
-Giselle Carnaby, M.P.H, Ph.D., SLP-CCC, FASHA, HONORS
Who should read this book:
This book is for you if you’re diagnosed with dysphagia or are a caregiver of someone battling a swallow disorder.
It’s for anyone feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or confused about what their swallowing impairment means and what their future looks like.
It’s also for anyone who feels like they’re not receiving the help they need to give them the best shot at eating again, and they don’t know where to look.
You should read this book if you want dysphagia care guidance from an expert who has also been in the caregiver’s shoes.
About Theresa Richard
Theresa Richard is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and board certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders. She’s the original founder and CEO of Mobile Dysphagia Diagnostics, a diagnostic company that provides instrumental swallow studies to adults with dysphagia in over 100 nursing facilities.
In 2017, she started the Swallow Your Pride Podcast, which globally ranks as the #1 dysphagia podcast and has been downloaded almost 3 million times.
Going beyond her immediate patient care, family care, and recording desk, Theresa further extended her reach by creating The Medical SLP Collective, which is an online membership community that provides mentorship and continuing education opportunities for over 6,000 SLPs who work in the medical setting.
She hopes this book-turned-passion-project will help thousands of people affected by dysphagia.
As an SLP and a mother to a son with special needs, she refuses to rest until access to best practice in dysphagia is readily available and achieved by all.