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Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing, which can compromise nutrition, hydration, and airway safety.

Dysphagia may be oropharyngeal (problem initiating a swallow) or esophageal (problem moving food through the esophagus). Causes include stroke, Parkinson disease, head and neck cancer, achalasia, and dementia. Management includes texture-modified diets following the IDDSI framework, posture and swallowing techniques taught by a speech-language pathologist, and tube feeding when oral intake is unsafe.

How one textbook covers it

  • Krause and Mahan's Food and the Nutrition Care Process, 16th ed. — Chapter 41

    Dysphagia may be oropharyngeal (problem initiating a swallow) or esophageal (problem moving food through the esophagus). Causes include stroke, Parkinson disease, head and neck cancer, achalasia, and dementia. Management includes texture-modified diets following the IDDSI framework, posture and swallowing techniques taught by a speech-language pathologist, and tube feeding when oral intake is unsafe.

Related terms

Aspiration Pneumonia, Frazier Free Water Protocol, IDDSI