Are You Having Trouble Swallowing?

Speech therapy for swallowing can help! A Speech-Language Pathologist completes a swallowing evaluation to determine where the problem is happening, potential causes, and treatment methods.

Treatment of swallowing problems can include education in strategies for safe swallowing, recommendations for food textures, if needed, and a personalized exercise program. Imaging of the swallow mechanism is often recommended to assist with rehabilitation, which we can provide directly in your home within one week of your initial assessment.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can be very obvious or very subtle from neurological (i.e. stroke) or physical impairments (i.e. head and neck cancer). Dysphagia can impact the individual’s life and their family or caregiver. A Speech-Language Pathologist’s role in swallowing is to complete evaluations to determine the potential cause(s), determine the phase of the disorder, and select the appropriate treatment method.

A Swallowing Evaluation And Treatment May Be Recommended If You Or Your Loved One Are Experiencing Any Of The Following Symptoms:

• Coughing/clearing your throat during or right after eating/drinking
• Cannot get food/drinks/pills down
• Globus sensation – complaints of “fullness” in the throat
• Feeling food sticking in the throat or chest after swallowing
• Difficulty coordinating breathing and swallowing
• Recurrent pneumonias
• Requiring more time to chew or eat meals
• Complaints of pain when swallowing
• Changes in vocal quality during or after eating and drinking
• Weight loss, malnutrition or dehydration from not being able to eat enough
• Food and or liquids leaking from the nasal cavity
• Inability to maintain lip closure, resulting in food and/or liquids leaking from the mouth
• Reflux/heartburn/regurgitation
• Frequent drooling
• Food or liquid remaining in the mouth after meals
• Avoidance of certain foods, drinks, textures

We Offer Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing

Flexible Endoscopic Evaluations of Swallowing (FEES) entail passing a flexible endoscope through the nose to the hypopharynx (into the throat), achieving a panoramic view of the pharynx and larynx (speech and swallow anatomy) that would allow us to determine the safest foods/drinks for you/your loved one to have.