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Swallow Prompt app

An app to help people who have difficulty remembering to swallow due to conditions such as Parkinson’s, brain injury or cerebral palsy.
It's easy to use and has a timer that you set to remind you to swallow.

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Swallow Prompt app	By Speechtools Ltd
	Features Reminders to swallow. Tone or vibration reminders.
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? No Require a login? No Have password protection? No Have a privacy policy? Yes Require internet access to use? No Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PNG, 200 KB] Health Navigator Charitable Trust, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	$1.99
How to get the app	(external link) (external link) (external link)

The Swallow Prompt app is a simple timer which provides a prompt or reminder to consciously swallow. It's useful for people who have difficulty remembering to swallow due to conditions such as Parkinson’s, brain injury or cerebral palsy. You can set the frequency of the timer from every 1 second to every 10 minutes. The alarm can be set as a tone (sound) or a vibration so it's less intrusive.

For the complete app description, go to the App website(external link) , Google Play(external link) or App Store(external link) or for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS	CONS
✔ Adjustable timer from 1 second to 6 minutes. ✔ Set reminders as a tone, vibration or both. ✔ 8 different sounds. ✔ Listen over a wired or Bluetooth headset. ✔ Displays a visual timer which may be useful for swallow practice. ✔ Available on Apple watch as a discrete reminder to swallow.	✘ No information on other treatments for drooling (chewing gum to encourage swallowing, oral medication, sprays and Botox). ✘ Very limited information about the causes of drooling.

PROS

CONS

✔ Adjustable timer from 1 second to 6 minutes.

✔ Set reminders as a tone, vibration or both.

✔ 8 different sounds.

✔ Listen over a wired or Bluetooth headset.

✔ Displays a visual timer which may be useful for swallow practice.

✔ Available on Apple watch as a discrete reminder to swallow.

✘ No information on other treatments for drooling (chewing gum to encourage swallowing, oral medication, sprays and Botox).

✘ Very limited information about the causes of drooling.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Lauren Hill, Speech Language Therapist, Auckland
Date of review: June 2024
Platform: Android
Version: 5.1.5
Comments: This app is easy to set up and use. It's beneficial for people who might need reminders to swallow, especially when used on an Apple watch or Bluetooth headset.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Yes.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP
Date of review: July 2019
Platform: Android
Version: 3.0.2
Comments: Many people with Parkinson’s disease have sialorrhoea (the accumulation of saliva). This is thought to be due to infrequent and inefficient swallowing. These factors, as well as having a stooped posture and the tendency for the mouth to remain open in the disease can lead to drooling. This is a very simple but well-implemented app that works as an adjustable timer to remind users to swallow. It's missing information on other treatments for drooling such as chewing gum to encourage swallowing, oral medication, sprays and Botox.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Relevant to New Zealanders.

Consumer guide – how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide – how to choose a health app
NZ health app library
Swallowing difficulty apps
Parkinson's overview | Mate pākenetana
Brain injury

References

Drooling in Parkinson's disease: a novel speech and language therapy intervention.(external link) Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2001;36 Suppl:282-7.

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Swallow Prompt app