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Dysphagia or 'difficulty swallowing'

Disorders that cause difficulty or discomfort in swallowing occur in all age groups, but especially in the elderly. The disorders are common in individuals with degenerative neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), postpolio syndrome, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, and may be the first symptom of the disease. They may also occur after sudden neurological damage as in stroke, or head or spinal cord injury, or indicate other problems, such as the presence of cancer or heart problems.

What treatments are available?

Drug therapy, including botox injections, may provide relief to some individuals with swallowing disorders. Surgery may also be needed in severely affected persons. Many individuals can be helped with assessment by a speech pathologist who will make recommendations for changing their diets and learning new feeding techniques, for example, positioning the head and neck in a certain way to help in swallowing.

See also: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Brain Injury, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health