Why we do what we do: It's all about the food.
By George Barnes MS CCC-SLP
Food is life. Food is medicine. Food is love. It’s arguably the most coveted thing in life, as we both live from it and live for it. It’s a staple that connects us all. It is a culture within a culture and is even interwoven between cultures to bind us with one another. In all cultures, food is the center of attention at celebrations. And for good reason. It’s awesome. The only time it’s not awesome is when there isn’t enough of it. Or, when you can’t swallow it. That’s where SLPs come in.
Dysphagia is a symptom, but in many cases, it acts like a disease. A disease that erodes the ability to enjoy food. A disease that can break apart our social lives when you are too fearful to eat around other people. It prevents us from experiencing so much of the joy and social connection many of us take for granted. Without the vibrancy of food, life becomes black and white. What better job could one have than bringing that color back into somebody’s life? Trick question, there isn’t one.
The responsibility we have is a heavy one though. It takes time, effort, and deep, thoughtful problem-solving. We have to assess complex physiology and weigh the many risks of a patient developing pneumonia or choking vs their strengths, abilities, and desires. Good thing we aren’t alone, as this task takes a village of medical professionals to help us along the way. But ultimately the decision of whether or not to eat comes back to us.
While the load is heavy it can be lightened by the pure joy of seeing somebody eat for the first time in months. The feeling of enabling a patient to finally eat without pain or fear and seeing the smile on their face as they take their first bite. This is what it’s all about. Not the endless notes or team meetings. Not the scheduling conflicts or the brand new device you can’t wait to try out. It’s not about FEES vs MBSS or IDDSI vs NDD. It’s about the people, the food, and the connection it gives us all. Nothing more, nothing less.
About George:
George Barnes MS CCC-SLP has clinical experience in a variety of settings including acute care, acute rehab, skilled nursing, and critical illness recovery. This variety has developed his specialization in dysphagia management with a focus on diagnostics through instrumental swallow evaluations. His concentration is on geriatric patients with complex medical status. He is the co-founder of FEESible Swallow Solutions, a mobile speech pathology company dedicated to improving access to high-quality dysphagia services for patients in the skilled nursing setting.
George has a track record of supporting the field of speech pathology by paying his knowledge forward to other professionals via graduate-level education, clinical fellowship, and student supervision, the Student to Empowered Professional (STEP) mentorship program, The Medical SLP Collective mentorship service, ASHA special interest groups, peer review for ASHA course material, the SIG13 dysphagia editorial committee, and participation in various interdisciplinary teams and committees in the hospital setting. He is a multiple ASHA ACE Award recipient for his dedication to continuing education. George actively conducts and supports new research aimed to improve efficiency and accuracy in dysphagia diagnostics, management, and care.
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