Compensatory Strategies and Techniques

The management of dysphagia usually begins with ­compensatory strategies and techniques, which are intended to improve swallowing function in an immediate but temporary manner. These techniques allow the patient to obtain their safest but least restrictive level of oral intake. In this chapter, we explore three main types of compensatory intervention for dysphagia: postural modifications; texture modification and thickened liquids; and sensory enhancements.