What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is the difficulty swallowing solid, semi-solid or liquid foods. It can affect any phase of swallowing: the oral phase (preparation and transport of the food bolus in the mouth), the pharyngeal phase (passage of the bolus through the pharynx) or the oesophageal phase. Dysphagia is not a disease in itself, but a symptom that can result from various neurological conditions (stroke, ALS, Parkinson's, dementia), oncological (head and neck cancer), structural or idiopathic causes. Its correct diagnosis and treatment is essential to avoid serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition or dehydration.
Warning signs: when to consult a speech therapist?
- Frequent coughing or choking during or after meals
- Sensation of food getting "stuck" in the throat
- Drooling or loss of food from the mouth
- Wet or gurgling voice after eating or drinking
- Refusal of certain foods or textures
- Unexplained weight loss or malnutrition
- Frequent respiratory infections (especially pneumonia)
- Excessively prolonged mealtimes (more than 30-45 minutes)
Dysphagia assessment
The dysphagia assessment at our clinic is comprehensive and may include: clinical bedside evaluation with volume-viscosity tests, orofacial structure and function assessment, analysis of clinical signs of aspiration, and where necessary, referral for instrumental tests such as videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) or flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). The result is a detailed functional diagnosis and an individualised treatment plan.
Dysphagia treatment
- Orofacial rehabilitation and swallowing muscle techniques
- Compensatory swallowing manoeuvres (Mendelsohn manoeuvre, supraglottic swallow, chin-tuck, etc.)
- Texture and viscosity adaptation according to the IDDSI framework
- Postural strategies to improve swallowing safety
- Strengthening exercises (Shaker, EMST, IOPI)
- Sensory stimulation to improve swallowing reflex triggering
- Patient and family education on safe feeding
- Coordination with nutritionists, physicians and hospital teams
Frequently asked questions about dysphagia
Other related services
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Dysphagia can be treated. Don't wait for complications to arise — act in time.