Therapy for Dysphagia in Adults
What is Dysphagia?
It’s not unusual for us to occasionally experience difficulties with swallowing. The term dysphagia specifically refers to a swallowing disorder that can cause pain or difficulty when swallowing pills, solid foods, or liquids. Dysphagia can occur at different stages of the swallowing process. The stages progress from the mouth (oral), to the throat (pharynx), and subsequently the swallowing tube that runs from the throat to your stomach (esophagus).
Most of us don’t think about our swallowing— until it becomes difficult to do.
What Causes Dysphagia?
Dysphagia may arise from trauma due to a fall, a car accident, or an urgent surgical procedure. Additionally, it can be linked to neurological conditions such as a stroke, cancer, dementia, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease. In some cases, the cause of dysphagia may not be easily identifiable, which can be quite frustrating. Furthermore, as we grow older, changes in our swallowing muscles can impact how easily we swallow. However, this does not necessarily indicate dysphagia.
Therapy for Dysphagia
The good news is that dysphagia is treatable, whether in the hospital, in an outpatient clinic, at home or through virtual therapy. There are over 50 muscles and several pairs of nerves involved in the swallowing process. The first step is to assess the structures involved in swallowing to determine whether dysphagia exists and which areas are affected. This evaluation typically involves a clinical assessment conducted by a speech pathologist and often includes a follow up instrumental examination for swallowing. For instance, the modified barium swallow (MBS) is an instrumental test similar to a video x-ray. Another option is the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), which uses a small camera attached to a thin tube to visualize your throat.
Once all necessary testing and diagnostic procedures are complete, treatment can begin. Addressing adult dysphagia may involve utilizing tools to strengthen the muscles used for swallowing. Other tools can assist in improving the timing and coordination of muscle movements in the mouth and throat. In some scenarios, sophisticated equipment may not be required; instead, various foods, drinks, and other items can be used to train a more optimal swallow.
Managing Dysphagia at Home
Keep in mind that we consume food and beverages several times a day to satisfy our nutritional requirements, maintain hydration, and simply for pleasure. Many social gatherings in our culture center around food and drink. Therefore, while it's essential to manage dysphagia with your healthcare team—including your primary care physician, neurologist, speech pathologist, dietitian, and occasionally an occupational therapist—there are also steps you can take at home to help.
Make every effort to follow the home exercise program tailored specifically for you by your speech therapist. Muscles need plenty of practice to strengthen, and I must inform you that solely focusing on swallowing exercises during your therapy sessions may not be enough. Routine and consistent practice is key!
Create a successful meal time environment by reducing distractions during your meals and utilizing any adaptive tools recommended by your occupational therapist.
Stay on top of the supplements and nutritional guidelines recommended by your dietitian. Your body requires sufficient hydration, protein, and other essential nutrients at all times, particularly during the rehabilitation process.
Establish and maintain an appropriate oral hygiene routine. When I say oral hygiene, I'm referring to the regular habit of brushing your teeth, maintaining healthy gums, etc. Your speech therapist can guide you with this and will refer you to your dental provider as needed. The condition of your teeth, gums and other oral tissues play a key role in managing your dysphagia.
I trust that you have found this information on dysphagia in adults to be useful. In the near future, I will delve deeper into dysphagia as it relates to specific groups, including geriatrics, individuals with dementia, stroke survivors, and more. Are you experiencing difficulty swallowing and unsure of the next steps? Please reach out to Bright Speech for a complimentary consultation to help guide you in the right direction.
