Polk County Social
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 17, 2018 7A
THE DOCTOR IS IN
Swallowing: An essential for life
Did you know that a swal-
lowing problem, medically
termed dysphagia, may
occur as a result of a medical
problem?
It can involve the oral cav-
ity, the pharynx or the
esophagus. Oropharyngeal
dysphagia is highly preva-
lent in older people because
of age-related changes in the
body. Elderly people often
experience loss of muscle
mass and function, reduced
elasticity of the tissue,
changes in the cervical
spine, impaired dentition,
reduced saliva and reduced
sensitivity in the mouth and
throat.
Swallowing problems can
lead to distress during
meals, reduced intake, aspi-
ration of food or liquids that
can lead to bronchial in-
flammation or aspiration
pneumonia, reduced quality
of life and increased risk of
mortality.
About the Author: Lorraine S.
Berreth Brazier, MA, CCC-SLP, is a prac-
ticing speech language pathologist at
West Valley Hospital and Salem Heath
Neuromuscular Program. She holds a
degree from Kansas State University
and has more than 30 years of clinical
experience in dysphagia and neuro-
logic disorders. Lorraine has lived in
Oregon for the last four years.
Brazier
Talk to your primary care
doctor about a referral to a
speech language pathologist
if you suspect that you may
have a swallowing problem.
An SLP is involved in the di-
agnosis and treatment of
swallowing problems. A
comprehensive clinical as-
sessment of swallowing al-
lows the SLP to gather infor-
mation from:
• Interview/case history
and past medical history.
• Physical examination
which can include ingestion
of food and liquids.
• Collaboration with
physicians, the patient and
other caregivers.
A modified barium swal-
low study, also known as the
videofluoroscopic swallow
study, may also be complet-
ed as part of the compre-
hensive assessment tool.
During the MBSS/VFSS the
speech language pathologist
provides the patient with
various consistencies of
food and liquids as the swal-
low is visualized in real time
on an X-ray.
Following evaluation, the
speech language pathologist
can provide treatments such
as changes to diet, new
swallowing strategies or re-
habilitative techniques such
as exercises with the goal of
lasting change in a patient’s
swallow.
Both the clinical swallow
evaluation and the modified
barium swallow study/vide-
ofluoroscopic swallow study
can be completed at West
Valley Hospital by a licensed
and specially trained speech
language pathologist under
physician’s order.
Medical conditions that
commonly result in dyspha-
gia include:
• Stroke.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Dementia.
• Head and neck cancer.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Gastroesophageal reflux
disease.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Vocal cord disorders.
• Endotracheal intubation.
• Sjogren’s disease.
MI TOWN
We all need to do some-
thing. Life in MI Town isn’t
all sunshine and light and
singing Kumbaya around
the campfire, no matter
how much we would hope
it to be. Recent news stories
about crime, drug and alco-
hol abuse underscore the
seriousness of how things
can spin completely out of
control and lives can be de-
stroyed in any community.
—
It doesn’t take a rocket
scientist to know that
methamphetamine use is
one of the most horrible
things to plague our towns,
our state and our nation.
Meth destroys more lives
than alcohol and other
drugs, motor vehicle crash-
es, fires and natural disas-
ters such as hurricanes and
floods combined. You can
become addicted after only
one use, and the road back
is a difficult one indeed,
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
with families forever
scarred and lives that may
never be put back together
the same way again.
—
Babies and children are
exposed to dangerous
chemicals because of their
parents’ use. Police officers
and child welfare workers
walk through houses knee
deep in filth, and human
and household waste to res-
cue neglected and abused
children in need of physi-
cal, as well as emotional
nourishment. Cops and so-
cial workers alike are doing
their best to protect these
innocents from even more
damage from those who are
supposed to love and care
for them. These sights and
sounds and smells are not
the ones conveyed to view-
ers of television programs
or at the movies. Emotional
distress and plain old sweat
and tears accompany those
who have sworn to protect
and serve all the citizens of
our communities, and they
will carry those memories
always.
—
Hope and help is avail-
able to people affected by
drug and alcohol abuse.
Mothers and fathers are
taught parenting skills,
anger management, how to
handle crisis, and positive
things they can do to put
their families back together.
Job assistance and training
is available. Ongoing Alco-
holics Anonymous and Nar-
cotics Anonymous groups
offer hope and encourage-
ENGAGEMENTS
North-Brewer
Joshua North and
Star Brewer, both of
Dallas, announced their
engagement.
The couple plans an
April 7 wedding, which
will be a small ceremo-
ny at a family member’s
home followed by a
honeymoon in Greece.
The groom is the son
of Chip and Linda
North, of Monmouth.
He works as a carpenter
apprentice.
The bride is the daughter of Dale Brewer, of Dallas, and
Carla Davies, of Silverton. She works as a home care
provider, and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business.
MILESTONE
BIRTHDAYS
Hansen - 100th
John Hansen will be celebrating his 100th birthday with
a party at the Dallas Retirement Village Health Center on
Feb. 8 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres, beverages and
cake will be served. Friends who would like to attend are
asked to RSVP to James Hansen, text/call 520-490-0547,
or email: jghansen@gci.net.
Lamb - 90th
ment to everyone whose
lives have been affected by
addiction and substance
abuse.
—
What can we do in MI
Town? We can encourage
friends and family mem-
bers who are struggling
with alcohol or drug prob-
lems to seek help for those
problems. We can give our
local law enforcement and
child service organizations
encouragement and sup-
port for the positive things
they do to make our com-
munities a safer place to
live. We can be good neigh-
bors and watch over young
children and families who
might need more help and
guidance in their lives, and
we can all make positive
steps to show that metham-
phetamine use and child
abuse is not welcome and
will not be tolerated in MI
Town.
The Polk County Historical Society
invites all members to our Annual Meeting
on Saturday, January 20, 2018.
We will be meeting at 1:30 in the Stafrin room
at the Museum in Rickreall.
This meeting is held every year to inform members
of the current status of the Museum and Brunk House
operations and to elect six members of the board. We
will be recognizing the contributions of time and
efforts of our volunteers.
This would be a good opportunity to view the on-going changes and updating of our exhibits.
Light refreshments will be provided. Call 503-623-6251 (Museum) for more information.
Charlotte Lamb, long-
time Dallas resident, cele-
brated her 90th birthday,
Tuesday.
Events to mark the oc-
casion were held on Sun-
day with a fellowship hour
following the church serv-
i c e a t Da l l a s Un i t e d
Methodist where she has
been a member for 73
years. Following the recep-
tion, her family hosted a
luncheon in her honor.
Charlotte was born in
the hotel in Philomath to Clifford and Ethel Jones. She
graduated from Dallas High School in 1946. Her gift of
singing garnered her a scholarship to study music at Pa-
cific University in Forest Grove. At the time plans didn’t
work for her to attend. Following graduation she worked
in Dallas as a receptionist for Hamilton’s Insurance
Agency and part-time at The Majestic Theater.
She married A. Curtis Lamb on Nov. 14, 1948, in the
Dallas United Methodist Church and they were married
for 59 years. Curt died on Dec. 1, 2007. Together they
farmed in the Lewisville area (Monmouth) and in Inde-
pendence before moving into Dallas in 1956.
She was active in the Dallas United Methodist Church
and served as president of several women’s church
groups, sang in the choir for more that 70 years, directed
both youth and senior choirs, and served as the church
secretary for 16 years. Charlotte also sang for many wed-
dings, funerals and other events in the community over
the years.
She was recognized by the Dallas Chamber of Com-
merce as Good Samaritan and by the Dallas Arts Associa-
tion as Artist of the Year.
She has been a member of Naomi Chapter No. 22 Order
of Eastern Star in Dallas for more than 57 years. She cur-
rently is active in the chapter and is a past Worthy Matron
and a past secretary serving for 16 years.
A talented artist, Charlotte’s paintings, have won many
special honors at the Polk County Fair and hang in the
homes of many local residents.
Her family includes children and spouses, Nancy and
Gerry Adams, Peggy and Greg Fisher and Warren and Sue
Lamb; grandchildren, Matthew Fisher, David and Melissa
Fisher, Scott and Charissa Lamb and Eric and Aika Lamb;
and seven great-grandchildren.
TALKS
2018
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