One of the things I love about speech pathology is the breadth of our profession.
People often associate speech pathologists with helping children to speak, but our role extends much further. We work with people of all ages, support people who don’t communicate using verbal speech to explore Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and other ways to communicate, and – perhaps something many people don’t realise – support people with eating, drinking and swallowing.
As a speech pathologist specialising in eating, drinking and swallowing, I think it’s important to look beyond clinical outcomes and consider the whole person and what contributes to their quality of life.
And mealtimes are a great example.
Mealtimes aren’t just an opportunity to eat and drink. They’re a chance to connect, socialise and enjoy time with the people who matter to us.
Whether someone eats and drinks orally, is tube fed or participates through tastes, sharing a mealtime can still be an important opportunity to bond and be part of that social experience.
Sometimes small changes can help create a more positive mealtime for everyone.
Where possible, try having meals together.
Being part of a mealtime doesn’t depend on how someone is fed. Sitting together gives everyone an opportunity to interact, communicate and enjoy each other’s company.
Try switching off the television and reducing other distractions. This can help everyone focus on the meal while creating more opportunities to talk and interact.
Try to include at least one food you know the person enjoys alongside new or less familiar foods.
This means there is something familiar and enjoyable on offer while still providing opportunities to experience something new.
Having a regular mealtime routine can create consistency and familiarity.
Keeping things predictable doesn’t mean every meal has to be exactly the same – it’s about creating a routine that works for the individual and family.
As a general guide, I recommend keeping mealtimes to no longer than around 30 minutes.
Any longer than this and eating becomes a chore and people get bored. If you have difficulties eating you are also likely to fatigue quickly, which will then negatively impact the safety of your swallow. Sometimes, smaller but more frequent meals can be more enjoyable and keep you safer when eating and drinking.
When I think about what it means for someone to thrive, I think about more than clinical outcomes.
I think about fun and being able to participate in everyday life. I think about being able to communicate the things that matter – getting your needs met, asking for help, saying what you want or being able to refuse something.
It means having a voice, even if you don’t communicate using verbal speech.
And when it comes to eating and drinking, it also means considering enjoyment and what’s important to the individual alongside swallowing safety.
Ultimately, communication is a human right. Part of our role as speech pathologists is helping people find ways to express themselves, advocate for themselves and have a say in the things that matter to them.
For me, that’s what Possibility to thrive is about – considering the whole person: their communication, everyday life, relationships, enjoyment and what matters most to them.
