Timothy Stockdale, SLPD, CCC-SLP, an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, recently shared his expertise on dysphagia (disordered swallowing) at two events.
Stockdale delivered a virtual lecture for clinicians at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in New Mexico. He was invited by Aaron Padilla, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, who has collaborated with Phyllis Palmer, PhD, CCC-SLP, at the University of New Mexico on work examining how aspiration relates to adverse health outcomes. Their recent publications informed Stockdale鈥檚 presentation, including a 2022 review highlighting the role of the body鈥檚 natural protective mechanisms (host defenses) and a 2024 rapid review examining how patient-specific factors influence outcomes following aspiration events.
Stockdale also presented at the Functional Voice, Swallow, and Airway Conference, a national event in Pompano Beach, Florida on March 7, where he explored how swallowing form relates to whether swallowing is functional for individual patient needs. He emphasized moving beyond swallowing form alone and considering how swallowing characteristics and host factors together help guide clinical judgment regarding whether swallowing may be functional to support nutrition, hydration, and quality of life while minimizing risk of adverse health outcomes.
This approach helps move clinicians beyond singular risk relationships and supports more balanced decision making. Using case-based examples, the presentation examined how pulmonary clearance and other host factors influence outcomes in individuals with dysphagia, emphasizing that risk is not typically determined by swallowing impairment alone.