How can I remember to swallow?
Swallowing saliva is usually automatic, but neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and cerebral palsy can reduce the urge to swallow and awareness of saliva build-up. Some people may therefore benefit from regular reminders to swallow.
Set it and forget it. Choose an interval, choose a sound or a vibration, and start. On an Apple Watch it is a tap on the wrist.
Was it designed by a speech and language therapist?
Designed and tested by a specialist speech and language therapist, and listed in the Parkinson’s UK Tech Guide. It is the second app Speechtools made, in 2012, after clinic work kept running into the same problem with no tool for it.
Which conditions is it used for?
Swallowing is automatic until a condition makes it less so. This is for the people that happens to, and for the therapists helping them build a prompting routine.
- Parkinson's, stroke, MND and MS
- Neurological conditions where managing saliva becomes difficult
- Cerebral palsy
- Where swallowing is not consistently automatic
- Speech and language therapists
- Setting up a prompting routine with a client
- Free support
- Help from the team who built it.
- Nothing is listened to
- It is a prompt, not a monitor: it never uses the microphone, so nothing you say is heard or stored.
What else helps with Parkinson’s at home?
- Parkinson's voice exercises at homeWhy Parkinson's affects the voice, what daily practice looks like, and how to keep it going between appointments.
Common questions
Will other people hear it?
Not if you choose vibration. On an Apple Watch the prompt is a tap on the wrist, which nobody else notices. A tone can also be sent to wired or Bluetooth headphones.
How often does it prompt?
Anywhere from every second to every six minutes. The interval is yours to choose and can be changed at any time.
Is there a subscription?
No. Swallow Prompt is a one-off purchase — you buy it once and there is nothing further to pay.
How much does it cost?
The current price is shown on the App Store and Google Play, in your own currency. Follow either badge on this page to see it.
Is the app available in my language?
Swallow Prompt is in English only. Once it is set up, the reminder is a sound or a vibration, so there is nothing to read.
More questions, and how to set it up: How to use Swallow Prompt.