Have you thought something sounded good to eat or drink, but the time of day was just not right? Like a soda at 11:00 pm? Lip balm could be a fix for this!
What about a bowl of cereal, but after you open the refrigerator, you realize you are out of milk? Lip balm could be a fix for that too!
We see many patients that have been told, for various reasons, that a food or drink is no longer safe for them to swallow. Flavored lip balm has become a simple replacement for those patients, while they participate in speech therapy to potentially regain their swallow function.
Olivia Walker, Speech Language Pathologist, says “I have found candy, breakfast cereal, and soda flavored varieties! My patients love them! It gives them a memory of what they are working towards. It also gives a reasonable fix to the times their ‘cravings’ kick in!”
Most times with help of speech therapy, patients are able to eventually regain their swallow function and tolerate their beloved food or drinks again. If you or someone you know has difficulty swallowing or certain foods/drinks that cause trouble, please call Franciscan Healthcare- Rehabilitation Department at 402-372-2372.
