Development of the Nutrition and Swallowing Checklist, a screening tool for nutrition risk and swallowing risk in people with intellectual disability

Abstract

Nutritional problems in this population group are generally under-recognised by carers and professionals alike. Dysphagia and its consequences, including nutritional consequences, are also poorly recognised. In 1997 the New South Wales Department of Community Services decided to develop a systematic approach to improving recognition, assessment, and management of nutrition problems and of dysphagia in its clients with intellectual disability. One of the strategies of the project was to develop a screening tool to improve awareness by care staff of nutrition risks and swallowing risks in the clients for whom they care. The Nutrition and Swallowing Checklist encourages carer involvement in identifying these risks and an interdisciplinary approach to the assessment and management of nutrition and dysphagia. This paper reports on the need for the screening tool and the development process up to the point of introduction into services.