HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Overview of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
Tirohanga whānui ki ngā taumahatanga horomi
Problems with swallowing can be mild. For example, when food seems to take longer to pass through your food pipe (oesophagus). They can also be more severe. Like when you have trouble getting food and even fluids into your stomach.
The problem is usually in your food pipe. But it can be at the back of your mouth, caused by something pressing on your food pipe. It can also be a medical condition causing problems with coordinating swallowing.
Swallowing difficulties can be caused by a wide range of conditions, some of which can be serious.
Causes of swallowing difficulties
Swallowing difficulties are usually caused by another health condition. They can happen at any age.
Common causes of swallowing difficulties include:
- some medicines, such as antipsychotics
- heartburn and acid reflux
- cancer, such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer
- a condition that affects the nervous system or brain. These include cerebral palsy, a stroke, multiple sclerosis and dementia.
Symptoms of swallowing difficulties
Symptoms can include:
- coughing or choking when eating or drinking
- bringing food back up, sometimes through your nose
- a feeling that food is stuck in your throat or chest
- a gurgly, wet-sounding voice when eating or drinking.
You may also drool and have problems chewing your food.
Over time, swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and repeated chest infections.
Diagnosing swallowing difficulties
See your general practice team early if you have swallowing difficulties. This is so they can rule out a serious condition.
Your general practice team will ask you about your symptoms. They will also check any other health conditions you have that may be a cause.
They may refer you to a specialist for tests, which may include a gastroscopy. This is where a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your food pipe and stomach.
They may also refer you to a speech-language therapist. The speech-language therapist will do a detailed assessment of your swallowing. This may include a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. In this study, your mouth and food pipe are X-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food and drink.
Treating swallowing difficulties
The treatment for swallowing difficulties depends on what is causing it and how severe it is.
Treatments include:
- medicines to treat acid reflux
- swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
- making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
- using special spoons, plates and cups
- surgery to widen your oesophagus.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Patient.info – Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Detailed information about swallowing difficulties.
- Alzheimers New Zealand – Eating well
This page tells you how to make sure someone with dementia gets the nutrition they need.
- Motor Neurone Disease Association – Managing saliva problems in MND
This factsheet explains who can help if you have problems with saliva. It also tells you what medications might be used.
- Parkinson's New Zealand – Parkinson's and swallowing
This factsheet is about swallowing problems caused by Parkinson disease. It explains what causes the changes and how to manage any problems.
On the next page: Dietary suggestions for swallowing difficulties
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed July 2023.
Sources
See also:
Review key: HISWD-121957
