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Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing and may be present in both children and adults. Swallowing difficulties can occur at different stages in the swallowing process:
- oral phase-- sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat
- pharyngeal phase-- triggering the swallowing reflex, squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway ( aspiration ) or to prevent choking
- esophageal phase-- relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the feeding tube in the throat ( esophagus ) and squeezing food through the esophagus into the stomach
Feeding and Swallowing Problems in Children
Some causes of feeding and swallowing problems in children are:
- nervous system disorders (cerebral palsy, meningitis, encephalopathy)
- gastrointestinal conditions
- prematurity/low birth weight
- heart disease
- cleft lip or palate
- conditions affecting the airway
Signs and symptoms of feeding and swallowing problems in very young children may include:
- arching or stiffening of the body during feeding
- irritability or lack of alertness during feeding
- failure to accept different textures of food
- prolonged feeding times (more than 30 minutes)
General signs may include:
- excessive drooling or leaking food/liquid from the mouth
- gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice quality
- coughing or gagging during meals
- recurring pneumonia or respiratory infections
- difficulty coordinating breathing with eating or drinking
- frequent spitting up
- less than normal weight gain or growth
As a result , children may have :
- dehydration or poor nutrition
- risk of aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway)
- pneumonia or repeated upper respiratory infections that can lead to chronic lung disease
- embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating
Feeding and Swallowing Problems in Adults
Some causes of feeding and swallowing problems in adults are:
Damage to the nervous system, such as:
- Stroke
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Parkinson' s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cerebral palsy
- Alzheimer's disease
Problems affecting the head and neck, including:
- Cancer in the mouth, throat, or esophagus
- Injury or surgery involving the head and neck
- Decayed or missing teeth, or poorly fitting dentures
Many other diseases, conditions, or surgical interventions can result in swallowing problems.
General signs may include:
- coughing during or right after eating or drinking
- wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
- extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
- food or liquid leaking from the mouth or getting stuck in the mouth
- recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
- weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough
As a result, adults may have:
- poor nutrition or dehydration
- risk of aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway) which can lead to pneumonia and chronic lung disease
- less enjoyment of eating or drinking
- embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating
*www.asha.org
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