Swallowing Disorders

Summary

If you have a swallowing disorder, you may have difficulty or pain when swallowing. Some people cannot swallow at all. Others may have trouble swallowing liquids, foods, or saliva. This makes it hard to eat. Often, it can be difficult to take in enough calories and fluids to nourish your body.

Anyone can have a swallowing disorder, but it is more common in older adults. It often happens because of other conditions, including:

• Nervous system disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy
• Problems with your esophagus, including GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Stroke
• Head or spinal cord injury
• Cancer of the head, neck, or esophagus

Medicines can help some people, while others may need surgery. Swallowing treatment with a speech-language pathologist can help. You may find it helpful to change your diet or hold your head or neck in a certain way when you eat. In very serious cases, people may need feeding tubes.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Diagnosis and Tests

• Barium Swallow National Library of Medicine
• Dysphagia Tests National Library of Medicine
• Tailored Barium Swallow Study National Jewish Health
• Understanding Esophageal Manometry American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• Upper GI Endoscopy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Deglutition Disorders National Institutes of Health

Specifics

• Difficulty Swallowing after Stroke (Dysphagia) American Stroke Association
• Oromandibular Dystonia Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

Start Here

• Dysphagia National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
• Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Swallowing Disorders National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Swallowing Trouble American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

Patient Handouts

• Esophageal manometry Medical Encyclopedia
• Painful swallowing Medical Encyclopedia
• Swallowing difficulty Medical Encyclopedia
• Swallowing problems Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Related Issues

• Globus International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Genetics

• Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Swallowing Disorders

Encyclopedia

• Swallowing Medical Encyclopedia

Living With

• Swallowing Problems American Cancer Society

Reference Desk

• Your Digestive System and How It Works National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases