More about Dysphagia
Difficulty with swallowing may result in a diagnosis of dysphagia.
Unfortunately dysphagia can lead to pneumonia, dehydration and malnutrition. That’s because inadequate nutrition and hydration can weaken the immune system, making it less able to fight infection or illness. So, it’s important to properly manage this condition in order to stay healthy.
Who can help?
Once diagnosed with dysphagia there are several types of healthcare professionals that may assist with your care, such as:
Primary care providers
- Assess swallowing reflexes.
- Observe potential signs and symptoms of dysphagia, like dehydration and malnutrition.
- Refer patients to appropriate specialists.
- Help patients understand whether the problem is structural or functional. (Is the esophagus too narrow? Or is the muscular mechanism responsible for passing food from the mouth to the stomach not functioning properly?)
Registered dietitians
- Provide education on how to implement and maintain a balanced diet and adequate hydration.
- Provide guidance on food selection and preparation.
Specialists, such as a speech language pathologist (SLP)
- Identify what is causing the swallowing difficulties.
- Offer tongue and swallowing exercises to help build up strength.
- Recommend and perform different tests to explore what is causing the difficulty and determine the appropriate diet consistency and therapy.