Swallowing Disorders

If swallowing food or liquids is difficult, painful, or causes frequent choking, it is time to pay attention: swallowing disorders cover the difficulties in safely moving food from the mouth to the stomach.

What characterizes them: They may show up as a feeling that food is getting stuck, coughing while eating, the need to swallow several times, or changes in the voice after eating.

Why they are evaluated: Impaired swallowing can affect nutrition and, in some cases, the passage of food into the airway, so it deserves evaluation.

Who studies them? The audiologist takes part in the assessment of these difficulties, often within an approach that integrates different areas. In the face of persistent discomfort when swallowing, the most sensible thing is to request a professional evaluation without delay.