Words supplied by Speech Pathologist Eve Beattie-Zarb
Swallowing is something we do hundreds of times a day… but how often do we actually think about it?
Like breathing, it’s something most of us don’t notice – yet it’s essential to everyday life. On average, we swallow 500–700 times a day (yes, really!) – with food, drinks, medication and even our own saliva.
Wednesday 18 March was Swallowing Awareness Day, shining a light on dysphagia and the importance of safe, enjoyable eating and drinking for everyone.
Speech Pathologists at Logan Hospital marked the day with a fun lunchtime event – sharing knowledge, running trivia, and giving staff the chance to trial different food and fluid textures. From thickened drinks to soft and bite-sized and pureed meals (thanks to our amazing kitchen team), it was a great way to build understanding of what many of our patients experience every day.
If something doesn’t feel right when you swallow, don’t just gulp it down – speak up and seek support.