Liza Bergström

Liza Bergström

Adjunct Lecturer | Docent
Visiting address: Entrévägen 5, 18257 Danderyd
Postal address: D1 Kliniska vetenskaper, Danderyds sjukhus, D1 Neurologi Logopedi, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Liza Bergström, PhD, is a specialist Speech Pathologist (graduated 1998, University of Queensland, Australia) who has worked internationally with clinical dysphagia management and research within tracheostomy, intensive care, neurology, head-neck cancer caseloads. PhD attained 2017. 
    Current area of research: Clinical research in voice, dysphagia and tracheostomy management.

Research

  • 1. RESEARCH PROJECTS that Bergström has led or been collaboratively involved in:

      • 2024-current.  Principle Investigator (PI) for TRACH INSPIRE project: TRACHeostomy INterprofessional practice for earlier SPeaking valve Intervention for improved communication, weaning and Rehabilitation: implementing Evidence-based practice. Multi-site implementation project within Sweden.
      • 2023-current.  PI for project: Evaluation of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) for people with Parkinsonism: A randomised controlled trial. Dept of Speech Pathology Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
      • 2022-current.  PI: Dysphagia Research Program, Dept of Speech Pathology, Danderyd Hospital.
      • 2020-current.  PI: Evaluation and management of dysphagia following intensive care, Remeo, Stockholm, Sweden.
      • 2022-2024.  International co-researcher: Invited expert. Delphi study for visuoperceptual assessment of Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) recordins in oropharyngeal dysphagia
      • 2022-2023.  Site coordinator for intensive care swallowing (dysphagia) screen, GUSS-ICU project, Danderyd Hospital.
      • 2020-2022.  International co-researcher: Invited expert, Respiratory Acuity Dysphagia Scale (RADS) - establishing validity through international expert consensus.
      • 2020-2022.  Co-researcher (international research group): Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of randomised control trials (RCT) investigating dysphagia interventions.
      • 2019-2022.  Co-researcher (international research): The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in adults in different healthcare settings: A systematic review & meta-analysis.
      • 2017-2023.  PI: Dysphagia management with cervical auscultation, Västra Götaland Region, Sweden
      • 2012-2014.  Project Coordinator: Multi-site, Head & neck cancer RCT, investigating dysphagia management following non-surgical cancer treatment, Västra Götaland Region.

    2. RESEARCH SUPERVISION

    Bergström has supervised eight Honours’ (Magister) theses and 12 Masters’ theses.  

    Current PhD student supervision:

    • Primary supervisor to PhD candidate J.Tegnevi (Karolinska Institute): Evaluation of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) for patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A randomised control trial (RCT)
    • PhD supervisor to P.Martell (Lund University): Dysphagia in the older population and within care facilities: prevalence, quality of life, health economics and treatment 
    • PhD supervisor to S.Wiberg (Åbo Academy University): The role of speech-language pathologists in interprofessional tracheostomy teams
    • PhD supervisor to V.Mirkoska (Umeå University): Dysphagia after stroke - incidence, mechanism, treatment adherence and effect of oral neuromuscular training on lip force and oral intake.

Teaching

  • UNIVERSITY: Dr Bergström is an invited/guest lecturer - particularly in the areas of dysphagia, intensive care and multidisciplinary tracheostomy management - across several universities within Sweden and internationally. Key teaching assignments listed below.

    1. Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

    2022, 2025: Speech pathology management for tracheostomized patients (Advanced Course, 7.5 credit points, Uppdragsutbildning). 

    2024: Dysphagia within intensive care (Speech Pathology program)
    2023: Physiology, the swallow function and dysphagia (Speech Pathology program)
    2021-2022: Medical education (ST-läkare): The difficult airway – What do we do? A challenge for anaesthetists and ENT doctors (Advanced Course, Uppdragsutbildning). Topic: Tracheostomy and larynx function.

    2. Linköping University, Sweden
    2021-2024: Speech pathology management with tracheostomised and ventilated patients (Advanced level).

    3. Lund University, Sweden
    2012-2023: Cervical auscultation as part of clinical dysphagia management
    2014-2023: Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES): Evidence-based interpretation and dysphagia management

    4. Gothenburg University, Sweden 

    (Course coordinator and lead lecturer):

    2016-2021: Dysphagia: Speech pathologists and dietitians’ collaboration for best practice dysphagia management
    2014-2020: Dysphagia: Evidence based assessment, treatment and management
    2019: Speech pathology management for tracheostomized patients (Advanced Course, 5 credit points, Uppdragsutbildning)
    2013, 2016, 2019: Cervical auscultation in the assessment and management of dysphagia for adult and paediatric patients (Advanced Course, 5 credit points, Uppdragsutbildning)

    5. Artevelde University, Belgium
    2023: Post-graduate dysphagia course. Topic: Cervical auscultation as part of the clinical swallow examination

    CLINICAL EDUCATION and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Apart from university teaching, Bergström is an invited course/workshop facilitator for working healthcare professionals – as listed below (recent years only). Collaborative workshops/presentations = indicated by *.

    • 2025. National conference for Post Intensive Care rehabilitation, Stockholm, Sweden. Topic: Dysphagia in ICU and longer term impact
    • 2024. Norwegian (Nordlands Region) speech pathology professional education day. Topic: Speech Pathology: Dysphagia and tracheostomy management
    • 2024. UK Swallow Group, 2-day conference. Topic: Psychometric properties of cervical auscultation: Research pros, cons and clinical application
    • 2023. Örebro ventilation education day. Topic: Teamwork for tracheostomised patients, with or without respiratory support *(Bergström and Sundman)
    • 2023. Akademiskt primärvårdscentrum, Region Stockholm. Professional development for speech pathologists. Topic: Dysphagia management for patients in their home environment
    • 2022. Akademiskt primärvårdscentrum, Region Stockholm. Professional development for speech pathologists. Topic: Dysphagia assessment with cervical auscultation
    • 2022. OpIVA Nordic workshop. Topic: Weaning from the ventilator and tracheostomy with speaking valve and high flow therapy *(Sundman, Bergström and Thorssin)
    • 2022. Region Stockholm ICU-nursing professional development congress (RUSK). Topic: ICU patients and swallowing dysfunction: Larynx, pharynx and saliva management
    • 2021. Nordic Spinal Cord Society Conference (NoSCoS). Workshop: Relearning breathing: Part II. Dysphagia and upper airway assessment: Laryngeal weaning *(Sundman, Bergström and Ingvarsson)
    • 2021. Södersjukhuset ICU education. Topic: Passy Muir speaking valve: State of the art practice
    • 2021. Region Stockholm ICU-specialist nursing congress (RIVA). Topic: Dysphagia within ICU
    • 2021. ALS-team national network meeting. Topic: Dysphagia and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)
    • 2021. Danderyds hospital ICU education day. Topic: ICU, dysphagia and multidisciplinary management
    • 2019. Specialist anaesthetic and intensive care nursing (AnIVA) congress. Topic: Multidisciplinary teamwork for dysphagia management with ICU-patients *(Bergström and Cedborg)
    • 2019. Örebro ICU education day. Topic: Multidisciplinary management for weaning from the ventilator and tracheostomy *(Sundman and Bergström)
    • 2019. Tracheostomy education day (Suunaas Rehabilitation Speech Pathology Team). Topic: Communication and swallow training with tracheostomized patients *(Bergström and Laakso)

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • The ICU Voice Project
    Karolinska Institutet
    1 January 2025
  • Intensive care: Multidisciplinary competency training and implementation of speaking valves for tracheostomised, ventilated patients
    Aina Börjesons Foundation
    15 January 2024
    The impact on laryngeal, voice and swallow function for patients in intensive care is often complex, multifactorial, and can have both significant and long-term effects. In Sweden, awareness of voice, communication and swallowing impairments within the intensive care population is growing however awareness for the potential benefits of including speech-language pathology (SLP) management for this cohort is limited. This research (Phase II) builds on previously successful work with funding from Aina Börjeson, Intensive Care: The impact on voice and swallowing (Dnr 2022-00208) – see attached progress report. Phase II, the ICU-VOICE project, focuses on intervention and including SLPs in the interprofessional ICU team – particularly for those intensive care patients who need SLP services most, that is, the prolonged ventilated, tracheostomised patient cohort. Best-practice guidelines, internationally, highlight that SLPs are an essential interprofessional ICU team-member for ventilated tracheostomised patients [8-10]. It is this state-of-the-art interprofessional practice, with early SLP and speaking valve (SV) rehabilitation in ICU, that is the focus of this research. In Sweden, SVs are not used with tracheostomised patients while attached to a ventilator, although this interprofessional practice is well-established in UK, Australia & US. This practice requires complex knowledge of SV risks/benefits, interprofessional training, and demonstrated competencies to ensure safe practice, without adverse events. Early SV use significantly improves several patient and healthcare outcomes. Improved patient outcomes include restoring the patient's voice, improved participation, rehabilitation, reduced frustration, anxiety and depression. Physiological benefits of SV include improved respiratory parameters, lung recruitment, sub-glottic pressure needed for effective coughing and swallowing. Furthermore, research investigating interprofessional tracheostomy teams using SVs early, demonstrates shorter tracheostomy times, ICU and hospital lengths of stay and reduced total healthcare costs per patient. Consequently, the ICU-VOICE project aims to evaluate the training and implementation of SLPs as part of the interprofessional team to successfully implement speaking valves for tracheostomised ICU patients while attached to the ventilator. Specific Aims: (1) Pilot and evaluate interprofessional SV competency training at 3 ICU sites in Sweden (Part 1 = specific to Aina Börjeson grant) (2) Pilot structured implementation of early SV intervention on tracheostomised ventilated patients in 3 ICUs (3) Evaluate patient, healthcare & cost-benefit outcomes following interprofessional training, larger-scale implementation of SV in ICUs across Sweden. NB. The ICU-VOICE project has been renamed: TRACH-INSPIRE project: TRACHeostomy INterprofessional practice for earlier SPeaking valve Intervention for improved communication, weaning and Rehabilitation: implementing Evidence-based practice.
  • Dysphagia evaluation after stroke – a randomized controlled trial of oral neuromuscular training on swallowing dysfunction (DESIRE)
    The Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2027
  • Evaluation of Expiratory Muscle Training for patients with Parkinsonism: A randomised controlled trial
    Promobilia Foundation
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
  • Intensive Care: The impact on voice and swallowing
    Karolinska Institutet
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2022
  • Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority
    1 January 2021
    Prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in adults admitted to neurorehabilitation hospitals in South-Eastern Norway<br/><br/>NeiForskningsopphold i utlandetThis study aims to estimate the prevalence av risiko for OD (swallowing difficulties) in adults admitted to neurorehabilitation hospitals in South-Eastern Norway. The study was originally a part of a doctoral thesis, but it was postponed due to the COVID pandemic. Changes to the study have been granted and data collection is currently underway.As reported in 2023 this project has resulted in the first PhD in the field of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in Norway. <br/>Swallowing is one of the more complex neurological activities we do, several times a day, without thinking about it. When we chew and swallow, we use many the same muscles and structures as for speech, voice and respiration. Swallowing requires intact sensory and motor systems that prevent food/liquid from remaining in the throat or going into the airway/lungs. OD or swallowing disorders, is defined as difficulty in mastication and/or swallowing. Mastication involves the chewing of food, mixed with saliva, until the food becomes a a satisfactory consistency for swallowing. Swallowing involves the safe and efficient transportation of liquid, food, saliva or medications from the mouth through the throat (pharynx), past the airway (larynx) and into the esophagus. Signs and symptoms of OD include prolonged mealtimes, avoidance of certain consistencies, coughing while eating and unexplained weight loss. Over time can OD result in serious medical and psycho-social problems such as malnutrition, dehydration, anxiety and social isolation. OD is common in the elderly and has been referred to as a geriatric syndrome. OD is also association with diverse neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, head injury, Parkinson's disease), and head and neck cancer. The prevalence of OD varies depending on age, disease type, severity, in addition to timing and type of screening or assessment. <br/>This project has resulted in three published manuscripts covering a broad perspective in the field of OD. The first study was a systematic review and meta-analysis on the estimated prevalence of OD in adults admitted to different healthcare settings. Results published in 2022 showed a high overall estimated prevalence in hospitals, rehabilitation and nursing home settings, in addition to a need for more prevalence research in the rehabilitation and palliative settings.<br/>The second study of the project aims to estimate the prevalence of OD in adults admitted to neurorehabilitation hospitals in South-Eastern Norway. As mentioned above, this study was postponed due to COVID. However, changes in the study have been approved and data collection started in June 2024. Data collection and analysis is expected to continue through 2025.<br/>The third study was a survey of three healthcare professional groups (nurse, occupational therapist, speech language therapist) to examine the current level of training, skills and service practices provided by those working with adults with OD in the Nordic countries. Results published in 2023 revealed a lack of training, access to and use of evidence based assessment tools, and use of rehabilitative treatment methods. These findings support the need for improvements in interdisciplinary education for professionals responsible for the assessment and treatment of populations at risk for OD.<br/>The fourth study was a validation study of the Norwegian version of the Swallowing Quality of Life questionnaire which now provides Norwegian healthcare workers access to a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of quality of life for people at risk of OD.<br/>
  • Regional Research & Development, Västra Götalands Region
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021
  • Regional Research & Development Foundation, Västra Götalands Region
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2020
  • Regional Research & Development Foundation. Västra Götanlands Region
    20 August 2014 - 13 January 2017
  • Gothenburg Medical Association
    9 January 2014 - 31 December 2015
  • Regional Research & Development Foundation. Västra Götalands Region
    11 July 2013 - 14 January 2015
  • Gothenburg Medical Association
    24 January 2013 - 14 January 2014
  • Regional Research & Development Foundation. Västra Götalands Region
    24 August 2012 - 14 January 2015

Employments

  • Specialist Speech Pathologist, Speech-Language Pathology, Dept of Neurology, Danderyds sjukhus, 2021-
  • Specialist Speech Pathologist, Remeo AB, 2017-
  • Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-2027

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2025
  • PhD, Laryngeal cancer management: Voice, communication and quality of life outcomes following non-surgical treatment, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, 2017
  • Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology, Cervical Auscultation as an Adjunct to the Clinical Swallow Examination, Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Gothenburg, 2012
  • Bachelor of Speech Pathology, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, 1998

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