The Viskies Dive into the Thick of it!

Dysphagia is a medical condition which affects 35% of elderly people in aged care facilities. Sufferers of this condition have experience pain and/ or have great difficulty swallowing foods, liquids and sometimes even saliva. Inevitably, an inability to swallow certain products has been found to lead to a struggle for sufferers to get a sufficient intake of nutrients, and has led to starvation in the past.

Luckily for our ageing population, five student engineers from the University of Queensland, called “The Viskies,” have developed a revolutionary product to assist those suffering from dysphagia. Student engineer Grace Soh tells that “around 10% of the elderly who suffer from dysphagia in aged care facilities die chocking from consuming incorrectly thickened fluid.”

The Viskies believe they have found the answer to this issue – ‘The Viskimetre.’

The aim of The Viskimetre is to provide dyshpagia sufferers with a product that is a 'one-off' purchase, easy to use and is accurate in producing the appropriate thickness of liquid, suited to a range of sufferers.

This product works by applying pressure in the form of weight on the top of the Viskimetre. It drains all the liquid out and uses a gravitational force to measure the thickness. Student engineer, Mr Enrico Hadde explains that “the weights have been manipulated to drain the liquid quickly; in 15 – 20 seconds,” and says the product “…is really simple, anyone can use it.”

The Viskimetre is proposed to be the only portable viscosity measuring device on the market and a much more affordable ($50 one-off payment) alternative to the current 'premixed/' packaged options, and other recommended maneuvers and medical tests available.

Upon completion, The Viskies have said that they hope to see their product available in chemists, hospitals and in particular, aged care facilities.

Having more alternatives for sufferers of dysphagia to explore is a would come as a sigh of relief for speech pathologist and deglutitionist Dr. Julie Cichero. She believes that dysphagia is a serious health care problem in Queensland and that there should be more attention given to dysphagia sufferers in the state.

The Viskies and their mentor, Dr. Timothy Nicholson, strongly believe that The Viskimetre has the potential to change the health, safety, and life span of sufferers, as well saving them money and allowing more choice in the products they consume.

If you, or anyone you know has troubles swallowing, please consult your health care practitioner, or find out more information through this site supported by Dr. Julie Cichero's: http://www.nofussfeeding.com.au/index.htm