Speak Out Feb 2017

Association news

Swallowing Awareness Day 2017

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.

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: www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/swallowing Like breathing, swallowing is a reflex and essential to everyday life. Humans swallow at least 900 times a day: around three times an

Join in!

#900swallows #dysphagia @SpeechPathAus speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/swallowing

awareness day 2017 Wednesday 15 March