The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of participants in a skilled nursing facility in two different feeding environments in order to compare any differences in degree of signs and symptoms of aspiration or meal consumption amounts to extend current literature with respect to determining the most effective environment for mealtime performance for dysphagia intervention while ensuring beneficial mealtime outcomes by conducting dysphagia therapy in the best environment for patient performance. Three participants were asked to eat meals in their normal mealtime environment and in a private therapy space while being observed. Observed signs and symptoms of aspiration and meal consumption amounts were collected at each meal. Results from visual and statistical analyses concluded that the environmental intervention had a slight, negative effect on the percentage of meal consumption amounts with the environmental change to the therapy space consistently causing an initial decrease in meal consumption amounts when introduced but little to no effect on the number of signs and symptoms of aspiration. Due to these findings, current privacy regulations affecting where dysphagia therapy can be conducted should be called into question.
