Abstract:
The treatment of neonatal dysphagia patients is hindered by the variability of dysphagia
treatment. The use of various formulas, thickeners and liquid viscosities used during swallowing
therapy perpetuate an uncontrolled clinical environment. During experiments conducted in an
Immersive Learning course at Ball State University, students used viscometers and the IDDSI
drip test to analyze the viscosities of several commonly used recipes designed to thicken infant
formulas. Measurements were compared to Varibar Barium to determine the correlation with
prescribed thickened liquids. I organized and analyzed the collected data to draw conclusions
regarding clinical application and continued research in this area.
