The Anatomy
The three steps/stages of a normal swallow.
1. Oral Stage
2. Pharyngeal Stage
3. Esophageal Stage
The medical term for a swallowing disorder
Dysphagia
Difficulty chewing, increased effort, liquid/food spillage, food/pills getting stuck, regurgitation of food, coughing/choking while eating, recurrent lung infections, and weight loss due to food avoidance.
The technical name for the ball of food made in the oral cavity.
Bolus
The cause of Dysphagia.
Any disorder, disease or condition that impacts muscles and nerves involved in swallowing.
The general safe swallowing strategies. Name one.
Sitting upright, take small bites, slow your rate, chew foods thoroughly, Dry swallow 2x after each bite, alternate solids and liquids, avoid mixing solids and liquids, refrain from talking while eating, add extra sauces.
The tube the bolus travels through to reach the stomach.
The esophagus.
Name a complication of Dysphagia.
Malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration, choking, or aspiration pneumonia.
The local clinic where you can schedule a swallowing evaluation if you are interested.
Piedmont University Speech and Language Clinic!!!
4020 Demorest Mt. Airy Hwy Demorest, GA 30535
706-776-0121