Dysphagia
What Is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a medical term used to describe difficulty swallowing.
The swallow consists of three main stages:
Oral Preparatory Phase: Food or liquid is prepared for swallowing in the mouth.
Pharyngeal Phase: The bolus is propelled from the mouth into the throat and directed into the oesophagus while the airway is protected.
Esophageal Phase: The bolus is transported through the oesophagus into the stomach.
Dysfunction at any stage of swallowing can lead to swallowing difficulties or dysphagia.
What causes Dysphagia?
Conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and traumatic brain injury can affect the nerves and muscles involved in swallowing, leading to dysphagia.
Anatomical abnormalities such as tumours, strictures, or inflammation in the throat or oesophagus can obstruct the normal passage of food or liquid, causing dysphagia.
Conditions that weaken or impair the muscles involved in swallowing, such as muscular dystrophy or myasthenia gravis, can result in dysphagia.
Chronic acid reflux can cause irritation and inflammation in the oesophagus, leading to swallowing difficulties.
Normal aging can lead to changes in the muscles and structures involved in swallowing, increasing the risk of dysphagia in older adults.
Symptoms of Dysphagia
Symptoms of dysphagia can vary depending on the underlying cause and severity of the condition.
Common symptoms may include:
- Difficulty swallowing solids, liquids, or both
- Choking or coughing when swallowing
- Recurrent chest infections
- Oral holding of foods and fluids
- Sensation of food or liquid getting stuck in the throat or chest
- Pain or discomfort when swallowing
- Weight loss or dehydration due to difficulty eating or drinking
Understanding the Impact
Dysphagia involves difficulties in swallowing, leading to nutritional issues, weight loss, risk of lung infections, psychological stress, and reduced quality of life.
It’s important for individuals experiencing symptoms of dysphagia to seek evaluation and management by a Speech Therapist, as untreated dysphagia can lead to complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, and decreased quality of life.
Types of Treatment
Treatment for dysphagia depends on the underlying cause and may include:
Making changes to the texture or consistency of foods and liquids can help make swallowing easier and safer. This may involve consuming soft or pureed foods, thickened liquids, or avoiding foods that are difficult to swallow.
Speech and Language Therapists can provide swallowing therapy to improve swallowing function and safety. Therapy may include exercises to strengthen swallowing muscles, techniques to improve coordination and timing of swallowing movements, and strategies to reduce the risk of aspiration (inhaling food or liquid into the airway).
Speech therapists provide guidance on feeding techniques for caregivers to ensure safe and comfortable feeding for patients with dysphagia.
In severe cases of dysphagia where oral intake is inadequate, nutritional support may be provided through feeding tubes or other enteral feeding methods to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration.
How Speech Therapy Can Help?
Speech therapy aids in dysphagia management by strengthening swallowing muscles, teaching safe eating techniques, advising on suitable food textures, enhancing swallowing reflexes, and providing educational support to improve safety and quality of life.
