Opinion Paper

Dysphagia services in the era of COVID-19: Are speech-language therapists essential?

Kim A. Coutts
South African Journal of Communication Disorders | Vol 67, No 1 | a709 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.709 | © 2020 Kim A. Coutts | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 08 April 2020 | Published: 29 July 2020

About the author(s)

Kim A. Coutts, Department of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

In the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many healthcare professionals are being faced with the question of what is considered to be an essential service. This opinion paper has attempted to answer this complex question by understanding the potential relationship between dysphagia and COVID-19 and how speech-language therapists (SLTs) in South Africa should tackle this. It also aims to answer the question through the lens of a risk–benefit discussion based around practices and decision-making. Important gaps in the field relating to how SLT practices need to move forward during this challenging time have also been highlighted. Reflective questions that can assist SLTs when seeing dysphagia cases have been provided.

Keywords

dysphagia; COVID-19; essential services; speech language therapy; swallowing.

Metrics

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Crossref Citations

1. Assessment and Management of Dysphagia during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sung-Hwa Ko
Journal of the Korean Dysphagia Society  vol: 11  issue: 2  first page: 93  year: 2021  
doi: 10.34160/jkds.2021.11.2.002

2. Speech-Language Pathology Management for Adults with COVID-19 in the Acute Hospital Setting: What Do We Know?
Luis F. Riquelme, Sara Diab, Angela Horyacheva, Isabel Huribal, Andreea Shellerud, Sophia Werden Abrams, Ashwini M. Namasivayam-MacDonald
OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine  vol: 07  issue: 03  first page: 1  year: 2022  
doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203036