Your speech therapist will put you on a special diet to help make swallowing safer and easier. Your diet will change as your swallowing improves. As a general rule, chew thoroughly and don't rush when you eat. This will lower your risk for aspiration pneumonia, which can occur if food or liquid gets into your lungs. This can be very serious. Follow the swallowing guide below. Your speech therapist will check off the boxes that apply to you. Guide for swallowing Which side of mouth to use: Left__ Right__ Solids None__ Puréed__ Soft__ Regular__ Other _________________ Liquids None by mouth___ Ultra thick__ Thick__ Thin__ Other _________________ | Medications None by mouth__ Crushed tablet__ Liquid form only__ With food__ With water__ Other _________________ Body posture Sit up straight (90 degrees) Recline ______ degrees Face forward Remain upright ______ minutes after a meal Other _________________ Technique Turn head left/right Tuck chin for each swallow Tuck chin for ___________ 2 swallows/double swallow Alternate liquids and solids Other _________________ |