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Association news
Following on from the success of Speech Pathology
Australia’s inaugural Swallowing Awareness Day in 2016, this
public awareness event will this year be held on Wednesday 15
March.
The theme for Swallowing Awareness Day 2017 is ‘Food and
Drink to Die For’.
Members can get involved with Swallowing Awareness Day in a
number of ways.
Two of the easiest are to:
• engage on social media by using #900swallows
and/or #dysphagia and by including
@SpeechPathAus in your Twitter and Instagram
posts; and
• download the Swallowing Awareness Campaign
materials that will appear shortly on the Swallowing
• Awareness Day page on the Association’s website:
Like breathing, swallowing is a reflex and essential to everyday life.
Humans swallow at least 900 times a day: around three times an
hour during sleep, once per minute while awake and even more
often during meals.
People who have trouble swallowing are at risk of poor nutrition
and dehydration, while babies and children may not take in
enough nutrients to support growth and brain development.
Did you know that one million Australians have a swallowing
difficulty?
For people with dysphagia consuming food and drink is
problematic. It can lead to life-threatening medical problems such
as pneumonia, choking, poor nutrition and dehydration if not
managed properly.
Swallowing problems can occur at any stage of life. However,
knowledge of dysphagia and its implications remain largely
unknown for most Australians. For this reason, the Association
and its Board felt a designated day to promote the effects and
management of dysphagia was warranted.
Swallowing Awareness Day 2017 is an opportunity to bring
attention to swallowing disorders and to connect people with the
professionals who can help.
Swallowing Awareness Day 2017
Join
in!
#900swallows
#dysphagia
@SpeechPathAus
awareness day
2017 Wednesday 15 March