Aspiration Disorders app

Clinical review

If used by patients in isolation:

If used within a consultation with a speech language therapist:

Reviewer: Jeremy Steinberg, GP Registrar, RNZCGP
Date of review: August 2019
Comments: I do not think this app is appropriate for patients, unless it was used as a tool during a consultation with a speech language therapist.
The extremely poor readability of this app means that I believe it is very unlikely to be useful for patients in isolation. The only context I could see it being useful is within a consultation with a speech language therapist, where the therapist uses the videos and pictures to help with explanations. Below is some example text from within the app (explanation for aspiration):
"Aspiration occurs when material passes below the level of the true vocal folds and enters the airway. Possible etiologies for aspiration have been introduced under other sections in this tutorial. Additionally incompetence at the glottal or vocal fold level poses a higher risk of aspirated material into an open/unobstructed airway. In individuals with adequate sensation, a cough reflex is elicited in an effort to clear material from the airway. An effective cough is judged by the ability to clear aspirated material.

Significant aspiration occurs during the swallow due to delayed swallow initiation with pooling in the valleculae and pyriform sinuses prior to the swallow and reduced epiglottic inversion to protect the airway. The patient elicits a cough which expels material for the vocal folds however contrast material remains within the trachea. Residue after the swallow places the patient at continued risk for aspiration."
Safety concerns: None  
New Zealand relevance: No concerns