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Getting Ahead of Dysphagia: Prehab in Head & Neck Cancer

Getting Ahead of Dysphagia: Prehab in Head & Neck Cancer

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 Up to 80% of patients treated for oropharyngeal head and neck cancer experience swallowing dysfunction—but what if we intervened before impairment starts? In this episode of Speech Talk, Eva and Emily break down the evidence behind prehabilitation for head and neck cancer, drawing from the literature review by Loewen et al. We unpack what prehab actually is, how swallowing therapy before and during treatment can preserve function, and why prevention is becoming central to dysphagia care. We cover evidence-based swallowing exercises, dosing considerations, nutrition and psychosocial support, patient education, and real-world clinical takeaways—including why timing matters more than you think. If you work with HNC patients (or want to), this episode will shift how you think about dysphagia intervention timelines. Citations: Loewen, I., et al. (2020). Prehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients: A systematic review. Current Oncology, 27(4), e382–e395. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7789666/ Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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