Swallowing/Dysphagia Therapy

What is a swallowing disorder?

Also called dysphagia (dis FAY juh), swallowing disorders can occur at different phases of the swallow.

• Oral phase- difficulty chewing and moving food or liquid from the mouth to the throat.
• Pharyngeal phase- difficulty starting the swallow, moving food or liquid down the throat, or difficulty closing the airway so food and liquid don't get into the lungs.
• Esophageal phase- difficulty relaxing and tightening the openings at the throat and stomach, difficulty squeezing food through the esophagus.

What can cause swallowing problems?

Damage to the nervous system, such as:

• Stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury
• Parkinson's disease, MS
• ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
• Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy
• Alzheimer's disease, dementia

Problems effecting the head and neck, such as:

• Cancer in the mouth, throat, or esophagus
• Injury or surgery involving the head and neck
• Missing teeth, teeth in poor condition or poor fitting dentures
• Intubation
• Tracheostomy
• General weakness
• Many other diseases, conditions, or surgical interventions can result in swallowing problems.

How do swallowing problems affect people?

• Poor nutrition or dehydration
• Risk of aspiration (food/liquid entering the airway) which can lead to pneumonia and chronic lung disease.
• Less enjoyment of eating and drinking
• Embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating

 What are signs and symptoms of dysphagia?

• Coughing during or after eating or drinking
• Wet or gurgly voice during or after eating or drinking
• Extra effort needed to chew or swallow
• Food or liquid leaking from the mouth or getting stuck in the mouth
• Recurring pneumonia or chest congestion
• Weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat/drink enough.

What does a speech-language pathologist do to evaluate swallowing problems?

• Takes a look at your medical history and current symptoms.
• Looks at the strength and movement of the muscles involved in swallowing in the mouth and throat.
• Evaluate swallowing problems affecting the mouth and throat.

What kind of treatment is available?
Treatment varies depending on the cause, symptoms and type of swallowing problem.  A speech-language pathologist may recommend: