Abstract
Undernutrition, dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, and suffocation can be fatal consequences of dysphagia caused by cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, if tube feeding is required, the enjoyment of eating is lost and QOL decreases. Speech-language-hearing therapists (ST) are included in rehabilitation teams involved in eating and swallowing function recovery and QOL improvement but have recently been tackling additional issues related to eating and drinking in higher brain dysfunction. As such, malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia caused by difficulties regulating eating speed and food refusal comprise food issues that often arise while treating elderly people and patients with dementia or higher brain dysfunction.
The present study presents two cases of unilateral spatial neglect, a type of higher brain dysfunction, and introduces related food issues and therapeutic approaches. We also discuss future prospects and issues regarding higher brain dysfunction and dysphagia from an ST perspective.
