Speech pathologists are responsible for optimizing the nutrition and hydration of patients with dysphagia (swallowing problems) to limit the occurrence of aspiration, aspiration pneumonia, weight loss and swallowing challenges/difficulty in general.
Patients with dysphagia should always have instrumentation. This may include a videofluoroscopic swallowing study/VFSS (also called a modified barium swallowing study/MBSS) and/or a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing/FEES to instrumentally assess the integrity of the oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) swallowing mechanism and provide insight into the esophageal phase of the swallow.
Additional gastrointestinal-related studies that could also be helpful may include a barium swallow/esophagram, upper GI endoscopy, manometry, pH probe study, gastric emptying study, etc.
Symptoms of Swallowing Disorders
- Coughing while eating/drinking/taking pills (or soon afterwards)
- Prolonged mealtimes
- Increased chest congestion
- The need for multiple swallows for one mouthful of food
- Difficulty or increased effort to chew or swallow
- Fatigue or shortness of breath while eating
- Weight loss associated with increased time required to consume meals
- Frequent pneumonia
- Difficulty managing secretions
- A feeling of something being “stuck” in the throat or chest region
- Your voice sounding wet/gurgly during or after eating/drinking
- Difficulty taking pills
- Esophageal-related symptoms (reflux, globus sensation, things “coming back up”, etc.)
For more information or to schedule an appointment with our speech pathology team, please call Roxanna Musko, AOC speech pathology assistant at: (602) 476-5004.