Author: Yoon Wai Lam

Wai Lam is the director and founder of Speech Therapy Works LLP and Singapore Swallowing Specialists Network. He has more than 20 years of experience in adult speech, language and swallowing therapy. He is the inventor of the Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR), a award winning swallowing therapy exercise that is currently practiced worldwide. He is a well known dysphagia trainer in the region and he has trained hundreds of speech therapists both locally and regionally. He is often consulted by speech therapists and other healthcare professionals for complex cases involving both speech and swallowing difficulties in Singapore and overseas. He is also a reviewer of the Dysphagia Journal.
Cost effective treatment, dysphagia research, Dysphagia Therapy, Singapore, speech therapy singapore, speech-language therapy, Swallowing Problem, Teaching, Uncategorized

Second Publication on Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR)

Yoon Wai Lam

We are happy to announce that the follow up study on CTAR has been published online (online first version) in Dysphagia Journal.

Original Paper

Dysphagia

pp 1-11

First online: 02 February 2016

Evaluating the Training Effects of Two Swallowing Rehabilitation Therapies Using Surface Electromyography—Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR) Exercise and the Shaker Exercise

  • Wei Ping Sze 
  • , Wai Lam Yoon
  • , Nicolas Escoffier
  • , Susan J. Rickard Liow

Abstract

In this study, the efficacy of two dysphagia interventions, the Chin Tuck against Resistance (CTAR) and Shaker exercises, were evaluated based on two principles in exercise science—muscle-specificity and training intensity. Both exercises were developed to strengthen the suprahyoid muscles, whose contractions facilitate the opening of the upper esophageal sphincter, thereby improving bolus transfer. Thirty-nine healthy adults performed two trials of both exercises in counter-balanced order. Surface electromyography (sEMG) recordings were simultaneously collected from suprahyoid muscle group and sternocleidomastoid muscle during the exercises. Converging results using sEMG amplitude analyses suggested that the CTAR was more specific in targeting the suprahyoid muscles than the Shaker exercise. Fatigue analyses on sEMG signals further indicated that the suprahyoid muscle group were equally or significantly fatigued (depending on metric), when participants carried out CTAR compared to the Shaker exercise. Importantly, unlike during Shaker exercise, the sternocleidomastoid muscles were significantly less activated and fatigued during CTAR. Lowering the chin against resistance is therefore sufficiently specific and intense to fatigue the suprahyoid muscles.

Details of the journal can be found at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00455-015-9678-2

We are happy to announce that we are starting our third CTAR research at the National University of Singapore.

CTAR research 3
CTAR research 3 in progress
materials for CTAR 3
Materials used in CTAR 3
Dysphagia Therapy, Featured clinicians, Singapore, Swallowing Problem, Teaching, Uncategorized

Workshop on ‘Best Practices in the Management of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia’

Yoon Wai Lam

Dear all,

JurongHealth Speech Therapy department will be organising a 2 day workshop next year entitled ‘Best Practices in the Management of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia’. The workshop will be conducted by Dr. Catriona Steele and will be held on 20 – 21 May, 2016 at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore.

NTFGHJCHoverview
NTFGH  

 

About the speaker:

Dr. Catriona M. Steele is a clinician scientist working in the area of swallowing and swallowing disorders. She has a background as a medical speech-language pathologist, and is Director of the Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network. Dr. Steele is a Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto and is in demand as a teacher and workshop instructor around the world. Dr. Steele holds research funding from the National Institutes of Health (USA) and has more than 100 peer-reviewed publications.

 

Brief outline of workshop

> Best Practices in the Identification and Assessment of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

–   Sensitivity and specificity of different dysphagia screening tools

–   Purpose, protocols and important technical considerations of videofluoroscopy

– Using information from research to quantify observations during a clinical bedside swallowing assessment

> Management and Rehabilitation of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

–  Evidence behind texture modification and postural approaches

–  Direct and indirect swallowing/exercise approaches including the use of IOPI and sEMG biofeedback

–  Other approaches in the literature: respiratory interventions, electrical stimulation, vibratory stimulation

 

Estimated cost:  $400 – $500 per participant for the full workshop.

 

 

Registration Correspondent: Ms Wong Wan Xin

Wong Wan Xin| Speech Therapist, Rehabilitation | Ng Teng Fong General Hospital & Jurong Community Hospital | Jurong Health Services
1 Jurong East Street 21, Singapore 609606 | T: (65) 67161674 | E: Wan_Xin_Wong@juronghealth.com.sg

Cost effective treatment, Dysphagia Therapy, speech therapy singapore, speech-language therapy, Teaching

Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention © Course

Yoon Wai Lam

beckman OM

About the Workshop:

Oral motor impairment presents a variety of challenges for both the individual affected, and for the care team providing intervention. Often the individual experiencing oral motor difficulties is not able to follow commands. The person may not be eating or taking fluids orally, which reduces the opportunities for observation of oral movement patterns. The majority of baseline protocols currently available require at least minimal direction-following skills. The protocol developed by Beckman uses mechanical muscle responses, which are not mediated cognitively, to baseline the response to pressure and movement, range of movement, variety of movement, strength of movement and control of movement for the lips, cheeks, jaw, and tongue. In this two day course, participants will actively participate in hands-on practice for compensatory handling techniques for the following concerns: tonic bite, tonic bite on a utensil, slow oral transit, tongue thrust, cough, gag and vomit. The participants will complete an oral motor protocol with each other, analyze the results, and discuss data tracking. The participants will also complete hands-on practice for specific oral motor interventions to address the deficit areas discovered during baseline assessment. Additional topics of discussion may include: goal writing, diet texture progression, tube to oral issues, adaptive mealtime utensils, oral hygiene issues, medication administration issues, oral function for individuals with tracheotomy, facilitating improved articulation through oral motor techniques, research issues, videofluroscopy issues for motorically involved individuals.

Speaker: Mr Stephen Chan (Occupational Therapist)

Target Participants: Licensed Occupational Therapists AND Speech and Language Pathologists/Speech Therapists

Date &Time:  9th & 10th March, 2016 (Wed & Thur) 9:30am – 5:30pm

Venue: Room 706, Peninsula Tower, No. 538, Castle Peak Road, Kowloon, HONG KONG

Seat Availability: 30 seats

Course Fee:

  • Early Bird registration by 9th January, 2016: HK$4,000 (including course materials)
  • Standard registration by 9th February, 2016: HK$4,500 (including course materials)

Certification: Upon 100% attendance, participants are awarded the Certificate of Completion by Beckman & Associates, Inc. And after the completion of the course, participants’ name can be listed (optional) on the website http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com.

Enquiry: To learn more about the course, please visit the website: http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com

Registration form can be downloaded from: http://www.crest.hk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Beckman-Certificate-Course-Information-by-CREST-2016.03-revised.pdf

For any enquiries, please feel free to contact Mr. Stephen Chan at stephen@crest.hk or (852) 3628 3443

dysphagia assessment, Dysphagia Therapy, SHAS, speech therapy singapore, speech-language therapy, Swallowing Problem

SHAS SIG : Sharing on Paediatric Feeding Services Available in Singapore

Yoon Wai Lam

Host: Speech-Language and Hearing Association Singapore (SHAS)

The SHAS will be holding a Special Interest Group : Sharing on Paediatric Feeding Services Available in Singapore

Date: 26 November 2015 (Thursday).

Venue: KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Women’s Tower (Level 1), Seminar Room 1, 100 Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 229899

There will be sharing session by various representatives from different organisations:

  • Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore
  • KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital
  • National University Hospital
  • Rainbow Centre
  • Thomson Paediatric Centre

SHAS paediatric feeding
If you are interested in attending the session, please email the completed registration form to pd.shas@gmail.com by 20 November 2015 (Friday). 

Dysphagia Therapy, speech therapy singapore, speech-language therapy, Swallowing Problem

Workshop on Dysphagia Management: NMES / sEMG Guardian Way in Hong Kong

Yoon Wai Lam

Guardian Way Workshop

Workshop on Dysphagia Management: NMES / sEMG Guardian Way

Instructors: Teresa Biber, M.S., CCC-SLP

Nancy Calamusa, MA, CCC-SLP

Date: 26-27 September 2015 (NMES / sEMG Guardian Way)

Date: 28 September 2015 (Paediatric Workshop)

Venue: Kowloon Bay International Trade and Exhibition Centre (KITEC) Room 631, Hong Kong

Contact:  GSBE Company Ltd at 9190-0180 or or GSBECOMPANYLTD@GMAIL.COM

Co-organizer: SpectraMed, Inc. and GSBE Company Ltd

Please refer to attached registration forms for details.

pdf_SEPT2015_Form

pdf_SEP2015_GuardianWay

pdf_Paed_Workshop_SEP2015

Dysphagia Therapy, speech therapy singapore, Swallowing Problem

Dysphagia Journal Reviewer for 2014

Yoon Wai Lam

Dysphagia Reviewer 2014

Feeling happy and honoured to see my name listed as one of the reviewer along side with all the world reknown dysphagia experts on the acknowledgment of reviewers page in the Dysphagia Journal for 2014. It has a great experience being a reviewer for this distinguished international journal for the very first time. Hope to have the opportunity to review more papers in future.

dysphagia assessment, Dysphagia Therapy, speech therapy singapore

Workshop “Dysphagia Assessment and Treatment for Adults and Children: Practical Applications and Cutting Edge Updates” by Dr Julie Cichero

Yoon Wai Lam

Dysphagia workshop

The Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS) is organising the 8th CP Symposium from 10–12 September 2015.

Workshop “Dysphagia Assessment and Treatment for Adults and Children: Practical Applications and Cutting Edge Updates” by Dr Julie Cichero, BA, BSpThy (Hons), PhD Australia.

Date: 10 & 11 September 2015

Venue: Max Atria @ Singapore Expo

Target audiences: Speech-Language Pathologists / Therapists

Please click SLP e-brochure for registration details.

 

dysphagia assessment, Dysphagia Therapy, Objective assessment

Basic FEES Workshop

Yoon Wai Lam

015

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing (Basic FEES) Workshop 2015

Hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong

The FEES workshops are structured to provide speech therapists and doctors with updates on dysphagia and serve to promote the use of FEES in the assessment of dysphagia, in rehabilitation planning and as a biofeedback tool. Clinical updates of dysphagia management and intervention methods will also be discussed. The workshops will also provide hands-on opportunities to participants which bridge the theory to practice. Organisers: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, & Institute of Human Communicative Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Target participants: Speech Therapists, Otorhinolaryngologists and Medical Doctors.

Learning Objectives: The objectives of the 2-day workshop are to present:

 The anatomy and neurology for swallowing

 An overview of dysphagia

 Swallowing assessment – principles and the diagnostic tools

 Assessment of voice and laryngeal function

 FEES –normal vs abnormal videos

 Diagnostic options for patients – VFSS / FEES

 Tips on endoscopy

 Provide 3-4 hours of supervised hands-on practical passing the endoscope on other participant(s) and / or on dummies

Course Day:             14 & 15 December 2015 (Monday – Tuesday)

Venue:                     Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

Registration is now opened, please go to the following link for the registration:
http://goo.gl/Ph8We8

For the details of the workshop, please kindly refer to the attached flyer or visit our website:  http://www.ihcr.cuhk.edu.hk/eng/events/main.htm

Due to the intensive nature of training, spaces are limited and processed on a first come first serve basis.

For overseas participants, you can email the secretariat for advice and special arrangements.

Applicants will be notified of the results of their application by email.
Should you need any further information, please feel free to contact the secretariat of the Program, Ms Rina To at (852) 3943 9609 or speechtherapy@ent.cuhk.edu.hk.