Swallowing

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is the medical term for trouble swallowing. It involves the mouth, throat, esophagus, (the tube from your throat to your stomach) and the opening to the stomach called the gastroesophageal junction. Dysphagia can cause food or fluid to go down the ”wrong way” into your wind pipe causing you to cough or choke. Ultimately frequent episodes like this can cause chest infections that may exacerbate other medical conditions you may have.

Who does it impact?

Dysphagia can occur in children and is associated with underlying etiologies and medical conditions. If you are concerned that your child(ren) has swallowing difficulties please contact your family doctor and send us a direct email here. Dysphagia in adults occurs following an adverse event or can be a result of damage to the central nervous system or cranial nerves.

Dysphagia may occur due to the following:

  • stroke
  • traumatic brain injury
  • spinal cord injury
  • dementia
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • multiple sclerosis
  • ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
  • muscular dystrophy
  • developmental disabilities in an adult population (i.e., cerebral palsy)
  • post-polio syndrome and/or
  • myasthenia gravis

(ASHA, n.d.)

Signs of dysphagia may include:

  • drooling and poor ability to manage food or saliva in the mouth
  • drooling and poor ability to manage food or saliva in the mouth
  • inability to maintain lip closure, leading to food and/or liquids leaking from the oral cavity
  • food and/or liquids leaking from the nasal cavity
  • complaints of food “sticking”
  • globus sensation or complaints of a “fullness” in the throat
  • complaints of pain when swallowing
  • wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
  • coughing during or right after eating or drinking
  • difficulty coordinating breathing and swallowing
  • recurring aspiration pneumonia/respiratory infection and/or fever
  • extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
  • changes in eating habits—specifically, avoidance of certain foods/drinks
  • weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough

(ASHA, n.d.)

Practitioners can provide screening, assessment and treatment for dysphagia. It is important to note that not all severity of dysphagia is appropriate for virtual care. Clients will be assessed on a case by case basis to determine feasibility.