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“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile ."
- William Cullen Bryant
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Welcome to the golden season! As the crisp air settles in and leaves turn brilliant shades of amber and crimson, autumn invites us to slow down, reflect, and embrace the cozy comforts of the season. Whether it's the scent of cinnamon drifting from the kitchen, the rustle of leaves underfoot, or the warmth of gathering with loved ones, this time of year
offers a beautiful reminder to savor the simple moments.
Read on to find out more about our new Trainer Rental Program and to see where we will be in the coming months. Also don’t forget to visit our TWO websites, https://iopicares.com/ and https://iopimedical.com/. The latter of which offers the latest news and research and gives you the opportunity to earn free CEUs with your choice of three courses. You can also interact with our IOPI staff, and Patient Advocacy tools (have you seen the Dysphagia Cost tool?!). You can also use our Get a Quote page if you need pricing information. It’s quick
and easy! Visit us at https://iopimedical.com/
You can also interact with us on Instagram @iopimedical & Facebook at IOPI Medical LLC for the
latest news and information.
Share the wealth! If you know someone who could benefit from our quarterly newsletter, send them this link to get signed up, www.iopimedical.com/news/.
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Your Patients Asked, We Delivered!
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Introducing the IOPI® Patient Home Rental Program. Finally, your patients can rent the IOPI® Trainer for home therapy!
Benefits for your patients…
• Affordable home therapy option for patients
• Rent vs. purchase—perfect for short-term needs
• FREE Training & support available for clinicians new to the IOPI® Trainer
• Zero administrative burden on your practice
And for your practice with enhanced patient outcomes:
• Continuous therapy between clinic visits
• No Administrative Load: We handle payments, shipping, and tech support
• Clinical Control: You maintain oversight of therapy protocols
• Flexible Rental Terms: 2–6-month rentals with easy returns
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ESSD 2025 15th Annual Congress
Athens, Greece, October 7-11
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We are incredibly proud to announce that after four years away, we are fully back in the EU! Even better, we will be back at the annual ESSD Congress in Athens, Greece this October. Preparations are under way for our own symposium to be held during the congress with esteemed speakers, Ed Bice, MEd, CCC-SLP, Catriona M. Steele, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Gwen van Nuffelen. The symposium, “Clinical Applications of Tongue Strength Measurement and Rehabilitation” will take place on Friday, October 10th at 3:30pm. If you find yourself in Athens, come say hello!
Details can be found at https://essd.org/essd-2025-15th-annual-congress/
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2025 ASHA Convention
Washington, D.C., November 20-22
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ASHA is always an exciting time for IOPI.
This year, in addition to seeing all our lovely friends and supporters, we will be showing off our fully launched Trainer Rental Program. For those of you who stopped by the booth last year and heard about the then soon to launch program, we
have changed things up a bit. You spoke and we listened! It is now easier than ever to support your patients with in-home therapy.
We will of course also be offering a special show discount for those who stop by, and last but certainly never least, our Clinical Consultant, Ed Bice will be on hand to answer your clinical questions. Just look for booth # 2805.
Registration and more information can be found at https://convention.asha.org/
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| 🌟 Share Your Success Story! 🌟
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We're launching our new #ILoveMyIOPI campaign and want to hear from YOU!
Calling all clinicians, researchers, and patients who have experienced positive outcomes with IOPI Medical products - we'd love to feature your story and help inspire others in our community.
How to participate:
📹 Create a video testimonial (3 minutes max)
💬 Share what you love about your IOPI and your genuine experience and results
📧 Submit your video to us at Info@IOPIMedical.com
What makes a great testimonial:
• Authentic personal experience with our product
• Specific outcomes or improvements you've seen
• Clear audio and video quality
• Consent for potential marketing use
• Comfortable speaking pace and good lighting
Submission Guidelines:
✅ Content must be original and truthful
✅ Professional language and appropriate setting that highlights the story you are sharing
✅ Participants consent to potential use in marketing materials
Selected testimonials will be featured across our social channels, and will receive one free box of Tongue Bulbs.
Ready to inspire others with your story? We can't wait to hear from you!
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Earn ASHA CEUs with Our Three Free Courses
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Many of you may already be familiar with our esteemed Clinical Consultant, Ed Bice, but did you know, you can learn from him from the comfort of your office or home? IOPI Medical offers ASHA Continuing Education Units with our FREE courses. Choose from: The Role of Oral Musculature in Swallowing and the Therapeutic Benefits of the IOPI, reviewing the oral musculature and its essential functions, as well as explore exercise principles and how the IOPI can be integrated into a dysphagia treatment plan.
Building a Therapy Program from the Ground Up, examining current evidence related to the assessment and treatment of dysphagia and providing practical suggestions for a path forward. IOPI Research Updates, summarizing recent findings related to the IOPI. Click for more information or to register, All Courses (thinkific.com)
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What Is "Usual Care" In Dysphagia Rehabilitation: A Survey of USA Dysphagia Practice Patterns
Carnaby, G. D., & Harenberg, L. (2013). What is "usual care" in dysphagia rehabilitation: a survey of USA dysphagia practice patterns. Dysphagia, 28(4), 567–574.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-013-9467-8
An article I often revisit is Carnaby and Harenberg (2013). The investigators used a survey to identify the “usual care” for dysphagia in the USA. Carnaby and Harenberg found that care is highly variable. The most common practices included compensatory strategies, such as diet texture modifications, posture adjustments, and patient/caregiver education. Rehabilitative exercises (e.g., effortful swallow, Mendelsohn maneuver) were reported but used less consistently. “Usual care” often relied solely on clinical swallow evaluations. The speech pathologists who responded to the survey recommended more than 47 different therapy techniques for
the single patient case provided in the survey. When reviewing all the interventions provided, 13% were identified as being exercise-based. Only 3.9% of respondents indicated that treatment recommendations were derived from the specific biomechanical abnormalities provided. The investigators argued that the variability found in the survey disallowed a definition of “usual care.” The research underlined the need for clearer practice guidelines and more consistent access to instrumental assessment.
As I pondered the article today, I wondered if, in the 12 years that have passed since the publication, standardization had improved. I wanted to
examine articles from various countries to examine how care for people with dysphagia has changed. In the current newsletter, I include one article from the US, one from the UK, and one from Finland. I will let you make your own determination as to whether standardization of practice has advanced.
Ed M. Bice, M. Ed., CCC-SLP
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The articles below are only a small fraction of the number of IOPI-related studies in general. You can find many more, covering a variety of topics, by visiting https://iopimedical.com/studies/ or clicking the button at the end of the section.
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Dysphagia Care and Management in Rehabilitation: A National Survey
Speyer, R., Sandbekkbråten, A., Rosseland, I., & Moore, J. L. (2022). Dysphagia Care and Management in Rehabilitation: A National Survey. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(19), 5730.
The article emphasizes the critical role of oral health in the development of bacterial aspiration pneumonia (BAP), particularly among the elderly and frail populations. It expounds on the conceptual framework of the "Three Pillars of Bacterial Aspiration Pneumonia," which posits that the simultaneous presence of serious illness, poor oral health, and impaired laryngotracheal function are essential for BAP to occur. The model underscores the importance of the oral cavity as a primary source of pathogenic bacteria, distinguishing BAP from other types of pneumonia
that may not involve bacterial aspiration.
The article also highlights the effectiveness of professional oral health care in reducing the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in long-term care settings. It notes that tooth brushing is the most effective method for reducing oral biofilms. The article calls for elevating oral hygiene practices to the status of infection control measures in healthcare settings.
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Alterations and Preservations: Practices and Perspectives of Speech-Language Pathologists Regarding the Intervention of Thickened Liquids for Swallowing Problems
McCurtin, A., Byrne, H., Collins, L., McInerney, M., Lazenby-Paterson, T., Leslie, P., O'Keeffe, S., O'Toole, C., & Smith, A. (2024). Alterations and preservations: Practices and perspectives of speech-language pathologists regarding the intervention of thickened liquids for swallowing problems. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(1), 117–134.
McCurtin and colleagues (2024) surveyed speech-language pathologists to examine current practices and attitudes toward the use of thickened liquids as a treatment approach for people with dysphagia. Their findings showed that over half of the respondents reported using thickened liquids occasionally, approximately one-fifth used them frequently, and nearly one-quarter used them rarely or never. Most speech
pathologists (89%) reported following the IDDSI framework, with Levels 1 and 2 most commonly applied. While many clinicians acknowledged patient preference as a critical factor in decision-making (93%), only about half believed thickened liquids were effective, and only 3% supported thickened liquids as the primary intervention for aspiration. Notably, 61% of respondents considered thickened liquids to be burdensome for patients. Decisions to discontinue thickened liquids were most often guided by improvements in airway protection, reductions in quality of life, or patient choice. Overall, the study highlights ongoing variability in clinical practice and emphasizes a shift toward person-centered approaches.
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Clinical Practice Patterns of Speech-Language Pathologists for Screening and Identifying Dysphagia
Dumican, M., Thijs, Z., & Harper, K. (2023). Clinical practice patterns of speech-language pathologists for screening and identifying dysphagia. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 58(6), 2062–2076.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12921
Dumican, Thijs, and Harper (2023) sought to gain a deeper understanding of how speech pathologists make decisions regarding the screening for oropharyngeal dysphagia.
The most common tools reported were:
- A water-swallow test (74%)
- Patient self-report (66%)
- Trials of solids or liquids (49%)
- Questionnaires like the EAT-10 (24%)
Two findings stood out. First, continuing education hours mattered. Clinicians who logged more CE hours tended to pick different, and often more evidence-based, screening approaches. Second, how SLPs stay current with research (whether through journals, CE courses, guidelines, or even social media) influenced which screening methods they used.
The bottom line? Practice patterns aren’t just about the patients in front of us. Practice patterns are often shaped by training opportunities, time pressures (e.g., productivity demands), and the way evidence is disseminated. The authors suggest that making research more accessible (through clear CE programs, practical tools, and workplace supports) could help reduce unnecessary variability and keep screening consistent with best practice.
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Don't Forget to Use Your Resources
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To help you achieve the greatest level of success for your patients, we continue to provide you with the necessary Purchasing Advocacy tools, and clinical support.
Our Purchasing Advocacy tools can be found on our Medical Professionals page. Here you will find our IOPI Dysphagia Cost Tool as well as a ready-to-use Benefits of IOPI for Dysphagia PowerPoint. Just populate it with information specific to your patient’s needs.
You also have clinical support at your fingertips! Our clinical consultant, Ed M. Bice, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is available to mentor through the advocacy process to assess and report the estimated cost of dysphagia to your facility. You can reach Ed for a patient consultation or clinical question by calling (844) 844-IOPI or emailing ed@iopimedical.com.
To access our IOPI Dysphagia Cost Tool, the Benefits of IOPI for Dysphagia PowerPoint, and tips on advocating for your patients, please visit: https://iopimedical.com/purchasing-advocacy/
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How can we get better at serving our customers, if we don’t know the ways in which we can improve? We have developed a very brief survey that would give us extremely valuable feedback, and it only takes a minute to complete! Please click the button below to begin.
To those of you who have already completed the survey, thank you! We greatly appreciate your insight into helping us offer the best service and products possible.
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Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything the IOPI team can assist you with. We are always happy
to help!
Phone: (425)-549-0139
Email: info@iopimedical.com
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