What is Dysphagia?

The following video illustrates the swallowing process, and how Dysphagia can affect the swallow, as well as an overview of The Five Systems of Dysphagia.

Dysphagia refers to difficulty or discomfort in swallowing. Patients with dysphagia are often unable to:

Chew certain foods or drink certain liquids
Attempt to swallow in a coordinated way
Feel the food and liquid as it passes through the throat or comes back up to the throat in reflux
Keep food down after it is swallowed
Ingest enough food and liquid to maintain good health

It is important to remember that a person does not simply “have dysphagia.” Rather, it is the result of something else that is debilitating the patient.

For example, dysphagia affects:

More than 30% of stroke (CVA) patients
Up to 82% of Parkinson’s patients
More than 84% of Alzheimer’s patients

Although dysphagia can occur at any age, it is more common in older adults. In fact, as of the year 2010, more than 16.5 million U.S. senior citizens require care for dysphagia. It affects:

More than 40% of adults age 65 and older
More than 60% of patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities