VitalStim Therapy is an effective treatment for patients suffering from difficulty swallowing or dysphagia.
NAPA Centre is now offering VitalStim® services by a certified VitalStim practitioner.
VitalStim Therapy is an effective treatment modality that is a form on non-invasive Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) for patients suffering from difficulty in feeding and swallowing/dysphagia.
Our state-of-the-art equipment uses Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) by placing surface electrodes over the target swallowing musculature.
This modality targets specific motor nerves on the face and front portion of the neck for muscle education and/or re-education by causing the muscles responsible for chewing and swallowing to contract. In combination with traditional feeding therapy, this allows for increased stimulation, strengthening, while restoring function and assisting the brain in remapping the swallow function.
At NAPA Centre, your child may be identified as a ‘potential’ candidate for VitalStim by the Clinical Director when therapy recommendations are initially provided based off of the patient intake form completed. If your child is identified as a ‘potential’ or ‘current’ candidate, the Clinical Director and/or certified VitalStim therapist will request additional clearance from your child’s treating medical practitioner. On the first day of the feeding session, your feeding therapist will assess and determine if your child is a ‘current’ candidate for VitalStim by reviewing relevant medical history and completing a feeding evaluation. Prior to VitalStim therapy commencing, additional clearance from your child’s treating doctor is required. In the interim, therapists will provide traditional feeding therapy without NMES.
For more information on VitalStim therapy, please refer to our information sheet by clicking here.
VitalStim Therapy is an effective treatment for patients suffering from difficulty swallowing or dysphagia. VitalStim may be used with infants and children suffering from a broad range of diagnosis.
If you think your child or loved one may benefit from paediatric swallowing therapy/VitalStim therapy at NAPA, please contact our team to begin the journey to creating an individualised therapy solution. For additional resources and information, contact us at info@napacentre.com.au or (02) 9420 5080
For additional swallowing resources, visit our blog!
