Brooke Lomupo and Staci Sorrell, speech-language pathologists from Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, were recently recognized by the city Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services with the Physical Award of Excellence. This 32nd Annual Brighter Futures, “My City, My Place” Award honors community members who support individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. It is hosted by the Public Awareness Committee of Intellectual Disability Services.
Lomupo and Sorrell treat patients who have experienced changes in speech, language, swallowing or cognition following a stroke, concussion, brain injury or a neuromuscular disease. They also evaluate and treat patients with head and neck cancer and children with difficulty or delay with speech and language.
One of the conditions that Lomupo and Sorrell diagnose and treat is aspiration, which is when food, liquid or some other material enters the airway or lungs by accident and can cause serious health problems. Aspiration can happen when a person has difficulty swallowing normally, which is known as dysphagia. Cognitive impairments play a role in dysphagia and can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia or choking. The speech-language pathologists adopted a proactive approach prioritizing preventive measures based on each patient’s needs to reduce the risk of serious swallowing incidents. They collaborated with Special People In Northeast Inc. to transition diet plans to the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative model and facilitated swallow evaluations for those with a prescribed dysphagia diet.
Described by their supervisors and colleagues as confident, empathetic and respectful medical professionals, Lomupo and Sorrell create a nurturing and trusting environment of care and are true advocates for their patients. ••
