Adults can acquire swallowing problems (also called Dysphagia) for a variety of reasons including stroke, head injury, head or neck cancer, or degenerative disease processes.
The severity of Dysphagia ranges from mild difficulties with particular textures of foods (such as meats or thin liquids) to severe/profound deficits that may require the patient to be fed through a tube in his/her stomach and prevent oral feeding.
A modified barium swallow study (MBSS) is a test of swallow function that utilizes a radiologist and a live x-ray to determine swallow function while the patient eats various textures of foods and liquids. This study is helpful in determining where in the swallow presents problems, and for determining if certain textures of food and/or head and neck positions facilitate a safer swallow.
Swallow disorders present a health risk if swallowed food and liquid penetrate into the trachea, the tube connecting the mouth to the lungs. This is called aspiration. Aspirated food and liquid that remains in the lungs may cause pneumonia.
In older and medically fragile patients, pneumonia can be very dangerous and even fatal.
Some Speech Therapists are trained to provide therapy for adults with Dysphagia.
TheraCare therapists offer both traditional swallowing methods and Vital Stim therapy.
Due to the possible medical complications that may arise from Dysphagia, swallowing problems should be addressed promptly.
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