Patient and Family Services

Pediatric Speech Pathology

Dysphagia/Swallowing Disorder

While swallowing is something we do hundreds of times a day, most of us never think about it unless sore throat gets the best of us. For millions of people with dysphagia, however, swallowing can be a daunting and sometimes life-threatening challenge.

What is Dysphagia?
Symptoms of Dysphagia
Causes of Dysphagia
Diagnosing Dysphagia
Treating Dysphagia

What is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a condition that can be brought on by many different causes. And symptoms can vary widely. Some people with dysphasia may have minor irritation when swallowing, while others may have difficulty swallowing liquids alone, certain types of foods, or even their own saliva. In severe cases, dysphagia can make swallowing impossible.

For people with dysphasia, eating can become a major, sometimes impossible effort. The condition can have a major impact on quality of life. And for people who can’t take in enough calories and fluids to nourish the body and maintain a healthy weight, dysphasia can become a very serious problem.

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Symptoms of Dysphagia

Symptoms of dysphagia may include:

• Hesitation or inability to swallow
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Constant feeling of a lump in the throat
• Food sticking in the throat
• Food coming up (regurgitation) through the throat or nose
• Chest pain or discomfort when swallowing
• Difficulty swallowing solid foods
• Frequent, repetitive swallowing
• Excessive throat clearing
• "Gurgly" sounding voice after eating
• Hoarse voice or recurrent sore throat
• Coughing during or after swallowing
• Necessity to "wash down" solid foods
• Recurrent episodes of pneumonia
• Frequent heartburn
• Food or stomach acid backing up into the throat (acid reflux)
• Unexpected weight loss

• Low interest in feeding or meals
• Tension in the body while feeding
• Refusal to eat foods that have certain textures
• Lengthy feeding or eating times (30 minutes or longer)
• Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
• Coughing or gagging when eating or nursing
• Spitting up or vomiting during feeding or meals
• Strained breathing while eating and drinking
• Poor weight gain or growth

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• Malfunctioning muscles in the mouth, throat, or esophagus
• Infections or irritations that obstruct or causes narrowing of the esophagus (such as ulcers and cancer)
• A nerve or brain condition that weakens the mouth, tongue, or throat muscles, or changes how those muscles coordinate (i.e. Stroke, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, and others)
• Injuries to the head, neck, or chest

• Developmental problems stemming from premature birth or low birth weight
• Nervous system disorders, such as cerebral palsy or meningitis
• Cleft lip or palate (structural problems which make it difficult to nurse or drink from a conventional baby bottle

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• Barium X-ray. For this test, the patient drinks a special solution that coats the inside of the esophagus, allowing it to show up better on X-rays. Your child's doctor can then see changes in the shape of his or her esophagus and can assess the muscular activity.
• Endoscopy. A thin, flexible, lighted instrument (endoscope) is passed down the throat so the doctor can view the esophagus.
• Esophageal muscle test. In this test, a small tube is inserted into the esophagus and connected to a pressure recorder. This allows muscle contractions of the esophagus to be measured as the patient swallows.

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• Exercises that can help strengthen or improve coordination of weak facial muscles.
• New ways of eating to make swallowing easier
• Which foods and drinks to avoid
• New ways to prepare food and drinks to make them easier to swallow