Why we offer high-quality swallowing assessment and treatment to Nova Scotians
Juliana’s Journey From Caregiver to Clinician
Offering swallowing treatment to those in Halifax and across Nova Scotia is my profession and passion. However, my story with dysphagia is a personal one. It starts with my journey as a caregiver. In my late teens and early twenties, I was a caregiver for my grandmother- my nonna, Maria-who had dementia. Like 80% of individuals with dementia, she had dysphagia, a swallowing disorder.
For me, watching her ability to eat and communicate deteriorate over time was the hardest part of being her caregiver. She always was the cook of the family and the keeper of our traditional recipes. Picture the classic Italian matriarch making tomato sauce, fresh bread, or other tasty food all from scratch. Not only did nonna love food, she loved to share food with us. My favourite memories of her revolve around cooking together, and enjoying food as a family. But with the progression of her dementia, those joyful memories were replaced by new ones.
These included multiple choking episodes while eating dinner. Memories of her being on thickened liquids due to concerns about aspiration (material going down the breathing tube/trachea towards the lungs) after observations of coughing while drinking water at mealtimes.
Swallow Therapy: Can It Really Help?
My grandmother never had access to swallow therapy. As a clinician I often wonder how swallow treatment would have made a difference in her quality of life.
You may wonder how effective swallow therapy can be for a person living with dementia, which itself is a condition with no cure. However, in dementia and other chronic conditions like Parkinson’s Disease evidence-based and individualized dysphagia therapy can be effective (Schindler et al., 2021; Ye et al., 2024).
A Comprehensive Assessment That Leads To Meaningful Follow-Up
Now as a speech-language pathologist, I help patients and their loved ones understand and manage their swallow function. After a comprehensive assessment, which for my adult patients includes a gold-standard assessment tool called Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), I will design an individual treatment plan. One Bite At A Time is the only private practice speech-language pathology clinic in Nova Scotia with this equipment. A focus on your goals, combined with my clinical experience, and the best evidence possible is my specialty.
One Bite At A Time offers evidence-based treatment techniques. I am the only private practice provider certified in McNeill Dysphagia Therapy in Nova Scotia. I am consistently learning about the most innovative ways to treat feeding and swallowing, for both children and adults.
As a local leader in research, I am the manager of the Oral Health and Swallowing Research Lab. This position allows me to constantly learn about new swallowing research, and get mentorship from Canada’s expert dysphagia researchers.
Evidence-Based & Compassionate Care
My goal is always to get you as close to your goals for eating and swallowing as I can. And my skills, clinical experience, training, certification, and drive for clinical excellence have already helped many people with their swallowing wellness. I can also promise you I’ll be there every step of the way. If you’re in Halifax or elsewhere in Nova Scotia and looking for swallowing treatment, let’s chat more about your feeding and swallowing goals. Book a discovery call to learn more about our services.
Each experience with dysphagia is unique. My family needed further support, and yours might too. I want to make your mealtimes as safe and joyful as they can be, for as long as they can be. Let’s work together on your feeding and swallowing goals, one bite at a time.
Pictured: Juliana (speech-language pathologist and owner of One Bite At A Time: Swallowing and Speech Services Inc) and her nonna Maria eating Thanksgiving Dinner
Please note: This blog does not replace a comprehensive assessment or treatment of swallowing. It is not medical advice and does not replace medical advice or treatment.
References
Schindler, A., Pizzorni, N., Cereda, E., Cosentino, G., Avenali, M., Montomoli, C., Abbruzzese, G., Antonini, A., Barbiera, F., Benazzo, M., Benarroch, E., Bertino, G., Clavè, P., Cortelli, P., Eleopra, R., Ferrari, C., Hamdy, S., Huckabee, M. L., Lopiano, L., Marchese-Ragona, R., … Alfonsi, E. (2021). Consensus on the treatment of dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of the neurological sciences, 430, 120008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2021.120008
Ye, J., Wu, C., Chen, J., Wang, H., Pan, Y., Huang, X., Wu, J., Zhong, X., Zhou, H., Wang, W., Wu, S., Zhou, T., Wang, L., Lu, P., Ruan, C., Guo, J., Ning, Y., & Xiao, A. (2024). Effectiveness of nurse-delivered stepwise swallowing training on dysphagia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: A multi-center randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 150, 104649–104649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104649
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