A nurse is collecting data from a client who has dysphagia. The nurse should identify that the client needs a referral to which of the following inter professional team members?

Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that affects a client’s ability to safely move food or liquids from the mouth to the stomach. It can result from neurological conditions, structural abnormalities, or muscle weakness and increases the risk of aspiration, choking, and malnutrition. Effective management requires specialized assessment of swallowing function and development of safe feeding strategies. Interprofessional collaboration is essential to ensure safe nutrition and prevent respiratory complications. Rationale: A. Occupational therapists focus on improving a client’s ability to perform activities of daily living such as dressing, grooming, and feeding independence. Although they may assist with adaptive feeding techniques, they do not primarily evaluate or treat swallowing disorders. Therefore, they are not the most appropriate referral for dysphagia. B. Speech therapists are the appropriate specialists for clients with dysphagia because they assess and treat swallowing function. They evaluate oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing, recommend safe food textures, and teach swallowing techniques to reduce aspiration risk. Their expertise directly addresses the physiological and safety concerns associated with dysphagia. C. Respiratory therapists manage airway and breathing support, including oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. Although they may be involved if aspiration leads to respiratory complications, they do not assess or treat swallowing disorders directly. Their role is supportive rather than primary in dysphagia management. D. Physical therapists focus on improving mobility, strength, balance, and physical function. They are not involved in the assessment or treatment of swallowing difficulties. Their interventions do not address the oral or pharyngeal mechanisms affected in dysphagia, making them an inappropriate referral for this condition.