What is A Swallowing Disorder?

Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia. Signs of dysphagia can include difficulty chewing foods, coughing or clearing the throat while eating/drinking, foods feeling stuck in the throat, choking while eating/drinking, difficulty managing saliva, and wet or gurgly vocal quality while eating/drinking. Dysphagia can lead to aspiration (foods/drinks going into the lungs), pneumonia, dehydration, and poor nutrition. 

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We treat dysphagia by recommending food and drink modifications as needed to improve swallow safety. We also educate on how to perform exercises that can strengthen swallowing muscles and therefore decreases swallowing difficulty.