Hard to Swallow?

Dysphagia is the term used when a patient is having difficulty eating and swallowing. The difficulty can arise during any phase of the eating process. It results from any number of neurological or physical conditions. Most commonly it results from a stroke or head injury but can also be due to throat/neck cancer, degenerative disease and some medications, among others. Dysphagia’s most dangerous outcome is aspiration pneumonia. This results from food material being aspirated (“breathed into”) the lungs. The material then sits in the lungs and results in infection.

• Some symptoms that a person with dysphagia may have include:
•   Recurrent chest infections (pneumonia)
•  Unexplained weight loss
• Drooling or excess saliva
•   Sensation of food sticking in the throat
•  Food remaining behind in the mouth after the swallow
•    Dehydration
• An aversion to certain “difficult” foods
•    Loss or change of taste

If you suspect you or a loved one may have any of these symptoms then please contact a speech therapist in your area.  The assessment process will depend on the specific symptoms of the patient. The therapist will take a detailed history and will want to assess the patients swallowing using various consistencies. More in-depth assessment may be necessary. This may be a Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) or Fibroendoscopic Evaluation in conjunction with an Ear Nose and Throat specialist.