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The Gaffigans Raise Awareness of Swallowing Disorders

Jeannie Gaffigan, comedy writer, mother of five, and wife of comedian, Jim Gaffigan, underwent surgery in April 2017 to remove a life-threatening tumor near her brain stem.  Damage to her vagal nerve resulted in dysphagia.  Jeannie initially required a feeding tube due to the inability to swallow and is currently undergoing swallow rehabilitation.

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Dysphagia Research Study Opportunity for Patients/Caregivers

A Medical Recruiter for Connected Research and Consulting, a Medical Market Research Company contacted the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders to seek volunteers interested in participating in a paid research study.

Connected Research and Consulting has a client that is looking to gather opinions from patients and caregivers impacted by dysphagia.

This would consist of a 1-hour phone/web interview and your compensation would be $150. This research is aimed at finding a possible and hopeful way to get better help for those who suffer from dysphagia. Connected Research and Consulting is not selling anything, and is  not employed by any drug company.

Volunteers’ identities will remain anonymous. If you are interested in participating, please call Sherry at 561-299-5700, or email her at sherry@connectedrc.com.

Company website: https://connectedrc.com/

 

More Details:

  • Incentive will be: $150, paid by check after the interview
  • Discussions will take place between Monday, December 3rd thru Friday, December 7th, at various convenient times
  • Respondents must successfully pass a short set of questions first before scheduling to participate
  • It is a telephone/web interview, so participants will need a phone and a computer (laptop or desktop only)
  • Looking for patients and the caregivers of patients that are between the ages of 40-75, have been diagnosed with dysphagia due to stroke, cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, MS, and other similar conditions, but not limited to only these conditions. Additionally, caregivers should ideally live with and prepare meals for the patient with dysphagia.

 

This is only for market research purposes, at no time will sales of any kind be involved. Connected Research and Consulting is only interested in any active feedback and information pertaining to the discussion topic that respondents can share from their experiences and expertise. They never divulge respondent identity or details to their end client, and all results from this study will be presented in an aggregate form ONLY and will be kept confidential.



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Dysphagia in the News: Celebrating Innovation

Ruth Martin, Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University, will be receiving the Vanguard Awards Innovator of the Year honor from WORLDiscoveries for commercialization and entrepreneurship involved in developing the Abilex Oral Motor Exerciser, a device designed to exercise and strengthen the jaw, tongue and mouth for people who have difficulty swallowing.


Celebrated innovation aids patients in swallowing

 



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Faces of Dysphagia 2018

Meet our 2018 Faces of Dysphagia

June is recognized as National Dysphagia Awareness Month. The following photos show our brave volunteers: patients, families, and caregivers who don’t let dysphagia hold them back.

Thank you to our volunteers and generous donors who sponsored our social media campaign to help raise funds for dysphagia advocacy, support, education, and research!

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IDDSI 2018 Contest

The National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders & the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative Presents:

The 2018 #IDDSIchallenge! 


You are invited to participate in a contest showing the world how you have been creating culinary delights using the IDDSI Framework.

 

Dates:  June 1 – June 15, 2018  Post your creations for National Dysphagia Awareness Month

June 20 – June 27, 2018 Vote for your Favorite Creations

June 28 – June 30, 2018 Announce the Top 3 Winners

 

Prizes:  3 prizes of $100 gift cards

 

Who can enter? Everyone! You can enter as an individual, a family, a corporation, a restaurant, a healthcare organization.

 

How to enter:

1. Record a short video (no more than 60 seconds) to show off your culinary creation and how you have used the IDDSI testing methods

2. Post your video onto Facebook and include #IDDSI and tag @NFOSD in your post between June 1 – June 15 (deadline is midnight GMT)

**Make sure your post is public so that we can share this!**

3. Like and share your creation on Facebook with all of your friends!

Here’s an example:

Rules and Regulations Apply: Click Here for more Information

 

How to win:

1. All videos will be viewed by an expert panel of judges and the top 5 entries will be selected for voting by the global audience.

2. Vote using ‘likes’ to choose the winners.

 

Meet the Judges: Click Here

Winners will be announced and showcased on both the IDDSI and NFOSD websites.

 

What is IDDSI?

The IDDSI Framework was developed to provide safety, through a standardised way of naming and describing texture modified foods and thickened liquids for people with swallowing difficulties across the lifespan.  It is a person-centred rather than profession-centred approach providing practical and validated measurement techniques to ensure that what is prepared in hospital, can reliably be prepared at home or other settings to reduce the risk of choking and aspiration. The common language of the framework can be used by persons with dysphagia, caregivers, clinicians, food service professionals and industry partners, allowing us to speak the same language the world over. Learn more at: www.iddsi.org