Show Notes
This time, we have two great guests who share their very own experiences with doing a PhD: Dr Irene Battel has just recently finished her PhD at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and Beatrice Manduchi is right in the middle of her PhD at the University of Toronto, Canada.
They talk about the highs and lows and the importance of doing a PhD in the field of speech and language therapy and especially in dysphagia. They also share helpful information about the different systems in Europe and North America and give tips on how to find funding, a mentor and of course, motivation.
By the way, Irene and Beatrice have their own podcast! Go check out their podcast (it’s in Italian) “Disfagia in Evidenza”
More from dysphagia matters
Tracheostomy care is a highly specialised clinical area, but when it comes to infants and children, the complexities multiply. Pediatric care requires a completely unique approach that accounts for anatomical differences, developmental milestones, and family dynamics.
When we think of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), we usually think of snoring, disrupted sleep, and daytime fatigue. But there is a critical link between OSA and dysphagia. In this episode, we sit down with Prof. Ankita Bhutada from Northwestern University to explore how upper airway collapse and chronic respiratory disruption can profoundly impact swallowing function.
What do you do when patients report severe swallowing difficulties, but all structural and neurological exams come back normal? In this episode, we talk to Prof. Anna Miles about her paper “Functional dysphagia: Developing a framework for assessment and treatment”. We explore why terms like “psychogenic dysphagia” or “phagophobia” are outdated, look into the neurobiological underpinnings of the condition, and discuss practical, biopsychosocial strategies for speech and language therapists.
What if a microphone and a few sensors placed on the neck could detect dysphagia; without access to FEES or videofluoroscopy, maybe even without a dysphagia specialist in the room?
Dysphagia is an under-recognised but clinically important complication following cardiac surgery. In this episode, Prof. Cara Donohue discusses why dysphagia can occur despite surgery being anatomically distant from the swallowing mechanism. We explore the complexities of dysphagia in patients post cardiac surgery, highlighting risk factors, prevalence, assessment methods, and potential interventions. Cara shares her research findings and clinical perspectives, emphasising the importance of early detection and proactive management to reduce complications and improve patient outcomes.