Rehab administrators answer questions regarding use of The Breather. IPRC archives information collected by the Pediatric Rehab Administrator’s ListServ as a public service to the entire Pediatric Rehabilitation Community. All information is posted in summary format and has been de-identified. Search through past queries for responses to rehabilitation related questions.

Original Question: Does anyone use The Breather for patients with dysphagia or dysphonia at your hospital?

Summary of Responses:

ORG A: do not use

ORG B: Currently we have the EMST 150 (free samples)(this is just expiratory muscle trainer) and we are trialing it with one of our adult patients. There has been some nice research with regards to respiratory muscle strength training and dysphagia (as well as speech). Also, with inspiratory muscle training there has been some positive implications for improvements with reflux. Currently, all of the research has been on adults and any of our pediatric patients would have to be at a cognitive level to follow directions and be compliant. We were looking into the Breather – but have not actually played with one….yet.

ORG C: Do not use

ORG D: Do not use

ORG E: The Breather was approved by our quality and market value committee this week at ORG E.