Drinking straws

[Claire24]

Hi

My dad has MND and is really struggling with drinking through a straw. His suction is very poor now and his head has dropped dramatically to the left side. He finds it difficult to find a comfortable position to place the straw in the mouth. We have some one way straws but they don't seem wide enough for him and he gets very frustrated when trying to have a drink.
Does anyone know any sites that sell wide one way straws or cups with wider one way straws?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Ellie]

Claire24 A warm welcome to the forum Claire.

Has your dad tried wide silicone straws, cut short, and bending down to the straw and cup (on a non-slip coaster)? I say this because I have a weak suck, poor head control and a jaw which has a mind of its own and can clamp shut on a straw!! Silicone is nice and soft. They don't have a one-way valve, but mine are wide (8 and 10mm) cut to about 2cm above my mug and I put the straw into the side of my mouth, rather than through the centre.

I wonder if his current, albeit narrow straw can be cut, maybe he'd find that workable or, failing that, take a look at Sturdy Straw, not the cheapest though, they seem to come in different widths.

Love Ellie.

[Claire24]

Thanks alot. I will definitely have a look into that and let my mum know xx

[Lynne K]

Welcome to forums Claire and good luck with finding a suitably wide straw that worked for your dad. Ellie is a mine of information. Love Lynne x