Therapy needed when reflex failed

Speech language therapist Warren Cossou checks Margaret Fisher's swallow in her Dunedin home....
Speech language therapist Warren Cossou checks Margaret Fisher's swallow in her Dunedin home. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Swallowing is something we take for granted.

However, Dunedin woman Margaret Fisher not only had to learn to swallow again after an extremely rare type of stroke, she needs to be conscious of each and every one.

The 54-year-old suffered a brain stem aneurysm in May 2011. Her speech was not affected because of cognitive disruption or slurring, but because the stroke affected a part of her brain controlling swallowing.

The removal of a tracheostomy tube last July allowed her to talk, but she needed intensive muscle therapy to train her muscles to swallow. It was no longer a natural reflex, but one she had to consciously summon and manage.

Feeding tubes were removed only this year, about February.

The former assistant Westpac South Dunedin branch manager said she was just about back to her usual self - including regaining her old tone of voice - after many intensive months of therapy, both in Dunedin and Christchurch.

To highlight Speech Language Therapy Awareness Week, Southern District Health Board speech language therapist Warren Cossou asked Mrs Fisher to be interviewed to highlight a little known aspect of his work.

Mr Cossou said Mrs Fisher had a positive attitude and sense of humour that helped her overcome severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

Her case was an extreme example but teaching adults to swallow after strokes was a huge part of speech language therapists' work, he said.

This often included supervising people's eating to train the swallowing reflex.

The theme for this year's awareness week, which finished yesterday, was "speak up for speech therapy".

- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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