Rehabilitation Services

What is a swallowing disorder?

Dysphagia (swallowing disorders) can occur at different stages of swallowing:

Oral phase – chewing and moving food or liquid from the mouth to the throat. 
Pharyngeal phase – triggering the swallow, squeezing food or liid down the throat, closing the airway so food or liquid does not enter the airway or lungs.
Esophageal phase – relaxing and tightening the openings at the throat and stomach and squeezing food through the esophagus.

What can cause swallowing problems?

  1. Stroke, brain injury, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disease
  2. Cancer in the mouth, throat or esophagus
  3. Injury or surgery involving the head and neck
  4. Decayed or missing teeth or poorly fitting dentures

What are signs and symptoms of dysphagia?

  1. Coughing/throat clear during or right after eating or drinking
  2. Wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
  3. Extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
  4. Food or liquid leaking from mouth or getting stuck in mouth
  5. Recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
  6. Weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough

Who can help?

Speech-language pathologists at BWMC evaluate and treat dysphagia including instrumental testing such as Modified Barium Swallow.