A helpful gadget I just happened to find...

[GonnaMissDaddy]

This is a neat, inexpensive product that isn't easily found when you're looking for adult aids because it's designed for handicapped or disabled children, not adults. However, it's been incredible for Daddy who can still drink from a straw and eat soft foods but sometimes more easily than other times. It's a 1" hard plastic valve that sticks into the bottom end of a medium size drinking straw and slows the flow to prevent gulping (which is a psp symptom that can cause choking,) and it keeps the liquid pulled up to the top of the straw in the case of the sufferer being too weak to do it repeatedly after every time they break from drinking to breathe. The valves are reusable and 3 for about $6. The flow is adjustable by snipping some off the end of a valve, but they're more for non-thickened liquids. The home-care-nurse who comes here to check on my dad was impressed with them and hadn't ever seen one and wanted to know where to purchase them. I bought them a few weeks before they were needed but I was very glad to have them once that time came and we've used them daily for about a month now. I wrote the company and let them know how useful the product is for the elderly and swallowing problems and she wrote back, saying I'd made her day! She was very sweet and glad to be helping even more people than she knew about. So, I just thought I'd pass it along since when I went to find buying info' for the nurse, I had a hard time and didn't recall I'd found them on a website for disabled children. Oh and the link is arktherapeutic.com/straws-v...

[Satt2015]

Wow!

Thx you for this info!!!! X

[Kevin_1]

Thank you!

[Julieandrog]

Hi

my swallowing lady!!!!! Advised for us in the uk Pamela Saunders straws, similar thing and work well, got them from Amazon. Only problem beer won't go up too fizzy I guess ! So his nightly small one stil is a struggle but his nibs seems to manage it!

Have a good day, I have four hours from hospice tomorrow hopefully weather dry so first outing on the allotment this year, bliss.

Julie x

[ganeshmm]

Nice job. thanx.

[am2015]

Thank you so much for that !!!

[Pentland]

In Britain straws with valves to control flow are available from the Occupational Therapist and are free on the NHS.

[Satt2015 in reply to Pentland]

Ooh didn't know that pentland, thx you!!!!

[Pentland in reply to Satt2015]

Your Speech Therapist wluld also supply them.

[Satt2015 in reply to Pentland]

Amazing thx!!

Nice of her to bloody tell us considering she only came over 2 days ago and knows we are having issues in this area!!

Thank god for everyone on this site that's all I can say!! X

[ketchupman]

Great info. I'll pass this along to others in my support group.

Ketchupman

[Gracie_Girl]

Thank you soooo much for the information. I'll get one today!!!

Gracie girl

[Baytalon]

Just ordered some for my husband.