What You Should Know About Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders)?
Whether your child coughs during meals, your aging relative seems to “pocket” food in their cheeks, or you are recovering from a medical condition that affects swallowing, dysphagia is something that should not be ignored but can absolutely be managed.
Here is what you should know:
Dysphagia (dis-FAH-shzah) is the medical term used to describe swallowing difficulty. It can affect individuals of all ages (e.g., infants to geriatric) and can stem from a variety of reasons. Some of the most common etiological factors of dysphagia include:
Neurological conditions: Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy (CP), multiple sclerosis (MS).
Structural issues: Cleft palate, tumors, esophageal strictures
Developmental delays in children
Aging: Muscle weakness and slowed reflexes
Medical treatments: Radiation therapy, surgery, or prolonged intubation
While dysphagia can be temporary, especially after illness or surgery, it can be a chronic condition that requires long-term management. Additionally, although swallowing may seem simple, it is actually a complex process that involves the mouth (e.g., oral cavity), the throat (e.g., pharynx), and stomach (e.g., esophagus). When something disrupts this process, food or liquid can go down the airway (into the lungs), get stuck, or not move efficiently into the stomach.
Now, what happens when dysphagia is not treated? When it is not treated, it can lead to serious complications such as
Aspiration pneumonia: When food or liquid enters the lungs
Malnutrition or dehydration
Social isolation: from avoiding meals with others
Stress and anxiety around eating
Therefore, that is why early detection and treatment by a trained professional is extremely valuable. If you do notice some signs of dysphagia in yourself, your child, or a loved one, make sure to
If you notice any signs of dysphagia in yourself, your child, or a loved one, talk to your doctor and request a referral to a speech-language pathologist, observe and document when symptoms occur and what foods seem problematic. Overall, do not assume it is just aging or picky eating, as many of these can be signs of suspect dysphagia.
Author: Nayeli Dominguez M.S., CF-SLP