About Swallowing Disorders

Swallowing disorders - defined as difficulty in passing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach - occur in all age groups, but especially in the elderly. The disorders can occur at any stage of the normal swallowing process, in which food and liquid move from the mouth, through the pharynx, into the esophagus, and finally, into the stomach.

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.

People with swallowing disorders may suffer from weight loss or dehydration and may be at risk for developing pneumonia. Some individuals notice that the disorders get worse at times of stress or excitement.

Treatment for Swallowing Disorders

Drug therapy, including botulinum toxin injection, may provide relief to some individuals with swallowing disorders. Surgery may also be needed in severely affected persons. Many individuals can be helped by changing their diets and learning new feeding techniques, for example, positioning the head and neck in a certain way to help in swallowing.

Prognosis for Swallowing Disorders

While in many cases, swallowing disorders can be partially or completely corrected, in some cases they can be life-threatening and require aggressive interventions, such as feeding tubes. The prognosis for people with swallowing disorders that accompany other diseases depends upon the severity of those other diseases.

Research on Swallowing Disorders

Public Health Authorities support research on conditions - such as swallowing disorders - resulting from or relating to disorders of the brain and nervous system. Much of this research is aimed at finding ways to prevent and treat these conditions.

Reference for Swallowing Disorders

National Institutes of Health

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