A nurse is planning care for a client who has dysphagia and is at risk for aspiration. Which of the following referrals should the nurse make?

A. Speech-language pathologist: Clients with dysphagia benefit most from a referral to a speech-language pathologist, who specializes in assessing swallowing ability and providing strategies or diet modifications to reduce aspiration risk. B. Respiratory therapist: A respiratory therapist assists with breathing treatments, oxygen management, and airway clearance. While aspiration can affect the lungs, preventing aspiration requires swallowing assessment, not respiratory therapy. C. Occupational therapist: An occupational therapist helps clients improve skills for daily living, such as self-feeding techniques. While supportive, this does not directly assess or correct the swallowing dysfunction that causes aspiration risk. D. Social services: Social services provide support for discharge planning, financial assistance, and psychosocial needs. They do not play a role in evaluating or treating swallowing difficulties related to dysphagia.