Dysphagia—the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing—affects 15 million adult patients in the U.S. But because many symptoms of dysphagia can be slight and non-assuming, 60% of patients suffering from it do not know they have a curable disorder. Great Lakes Caring Home Health is taking an innovative approach to restoring an enriched quality of life to those suffering with dysphagia by offering VitalStim® Therapy.
VitalStim® Therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses external electronic stimulation to improve the muscles around the esophagus, there by helping you to re-educate those muscles to swallow. Electrical pulses are sent through small pads that are placed down the front of the neck to activate the muscles and induce a swallowing action. It is the only neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy that has been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of dysphagia.
Because VitalStim® Therapy is a non-invasive treatment, and there are no pre-op preparations, surgeries or recovery times to worry about. It is provided by a Great Lakes Caring speech language pathologist (SLP) to you, wherever you call home. Every Great Lakes Caring SLP is trained and nationally certified in VitalStim® Therapy.
We evaluate you for the appropriateness of the VitalStim® Therapy and treat you at no additional cost, if it is prescribed by a physician. Other patients who have not had dysphagia treatment prescribed by a physician can still request VitalStim® Therapy for a nominal fee.
We invite you to contact us and schedule an in-home evaluation to assess your needs and determine whether VitalStim® Therapy is appropriate for you or a loved one.
People who suffer or have suffered from the following conditions are more likely to have trouble swallowing:
