A call for dysphagia-related safety incident research in people with developmental disabilities

Preventable deaths and respiratory illness related to dysphagia (swallowing disorders) in people with lifelong disabilities are of urgent concern for all who have a duty to provide safe care, and this concern is reflected internationally in reports on preventable deaths in this population (e.g., Morad, Kandel, Ahn, Fuchs, & Merrick, 2008; Morad, Kandel, & Merrick, 2009; NSW Ombudsman, 2013; Scottish Government, 2013; UK Government Department of Health, 2013). Dysphagia poses a serious health risk with associated high morbidity and mortality (Logemann, 1998; Sheppard, 1995, 2006). As many as 40% of individuals with dysphagia suffer frequent respiratory tract infections, choking, asphyxia, dehydration, and poor nutritional state (Kennedy, McCombie, Dawes, McConnell, & Dunnigan, 1997; Logemann, 1998). The presence of multiple diagnoses, including psychiatric conditions, and the interaction and side effects of multiple medications, can further complicate the presentation of dysphagia (Balzer, 2000)