Swallowing disorders

A swallowing problem can affect your ability to get enough nutrition or enjoy eating and drinking. It can result from aging, neurologic illness, or physical abnormalities of the mouth, throat, or esophagus. Symptoms of a swallowing problem can include the following:

• Regular coughing or throat clearing after swallowing food or drink

• Feeling a lump in your throat when swallowing food or drink

• Feeling that food or drink "went down the wrong way"

• Difficulty moving the food from your mouth to your throat

• Feeling food come back up

• Fear of swallowing

I can assess your ability to swallow while you eat and drink different types of foods and liquids. I may need to refer you for additional swallow tests or consultations, including flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), videofluroscopy, or a visit with a laryngologist or gastroenterologist. Swallow therapy includes tongue and throat strengthening exercises, strategies for safe eating and drinking, and considerations regarding any necessary dietary changes. It may also include light touch manual therapy (in a chair or on a massage table) to address any limitations in tension in the throat, face, and jaw which may be affecting your swallowing. Clinical hypnosis could be helpful to address fear of swallowing, if you are interested, since it is like a form of counseling but with your eyes closed.