Clinical analysis of swallowing and difficulties in feeding malnourished elderly ambulatory patients

Abstract

The present study aims to ascertain whether elderly ambulatory patients, with a nutritional diagnosis of malnutrition, also present swallowing difficulties. So, 9 malnourished elderly men and women, aged from 64 to 86, were specifically assessed by a speech-language therapist to identify any alteration in the oral phase of swallowing. We can conclude that malnourished elderly people are more likely to develop dysphasia; it is necessary that nutritionists and speech-language therapists work together to remove the present difficulties and to prevent the outcome of other disorders, thus guaranteeing an effective quality of life.