Aspiration Disorders app

The Aspiration Disorders app has features to help health professionals teach patients about aspiration swallowing disorders. The app has animated drawings and video recordings of swallows (MBS and FEES) to illustrate what happens during normal swallowing and during aspiration disorders. Aspiration happens when food or liquids enter the airway, either during a swallow or when food comes back up from the stomach. It can cause coughing and choking and if the aspirated contents reach the lungs, it can cause a serious condition called aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration disorders are more likely in people who have swallowing difficulties.

The language and illustrations in this app are quite technical. Consequently it is unlikely to have any benefit to consumers if used outside of a consultation with a speech language therapist. For the complete app description, go to the app website(external link), App Store(external link), Play Store(external link), or for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

Clinical review

If used by patients in isolation:

If used within a consultation with a speech language therapist:

Reviewer: Lauren Hill, Speech Therapist, Auckland
Date of review: July 2024
Platform: Apple
Version: 1.4
Comments: This app would only be useful if used during a consultation or discussion with a speech language therapist. The anatomical illustrations and videos could be useful to visualise what is happening during a normal swallow versus a swallow with penetration or aspiration occurring. However, without a trained professional the app has very limited use. It has no benefit post diagnosis for dysphagia rehab or management and the information contained in the app is highly medical with no glossary. 
Safety concerns: None 
New Zealand relevance: Yes.

Clinical review

If used by patients in isolation:

If used within a consultation with a speech language therapist:

Reviewer: Jeremy Steinberg, GP Registrar, FRNZCGP
Date of review: August 2019
Platform: Apple
Version: 1.3
Comments: I do not think this app is appropriate for patients, unless it was used as a tool during a consultation with a speech language therapist.
The extremely poor readability of this app means that I believe it is very unlikely to be useful for patients in isolation. The only context I could see it being useful is within a consultation with a speech language therapist, where the therapist uses the videos and pictures to help with explanations. Below is some example text from within the app (explanation for aspiration):
"Aspiration occurs when material passes below the level of the true vocal folds and enters the airway. Possible etiologies for aspiration have been introduced under other sections in this tutorial. Additionally incompetence at the glottal or vocal fold level poses a higher risk of aspirated material into an open/unobstructed airway. In individuals with adequate sensation, a cough reflex is elicited in an effort to clear material from the airway. An effective cough is judged by the ability to clear aspirated material.
Significant aspiration occurs during the swallow due to delayed swallow initiation with pooling in the valleculae and pyriform sinuses prior to the swallow and reduced epiglottic inversion to protect the airway. The patient elicits a cough which expels material for the vocal folds however contrast material remains within the trachea. Residue after the swallow places the patient at continued risk for aspiration."
Safety concerns: None  
New Zealand relevance: No concerns