How to Identify Symptoms of Dysphagia

Dysphagia is difficulty or pain initiated by the act of swallowing. The condition affects swallowing when eating solid foods or liquids and most commonly affects older adults, though anyone may be afflicted with the condition. Various risk factors increase conditions that may result in dysphagia, including but not limited to GERD, surgery, infections, inflammation and anxiety disorders. The importance of recognizing symptoms of dysphagia may help to prevent malnutrition as well as aspiration, or the inhalation of liquids or food particles into the lungs, which often results in pneumonia. Swallowing therapy may be indicated for some individuals afflicted with this swallowing diffculty, and a change of diet to semi-solid or pureed foods may be indicated with various other risk factors including general health, age and conditions.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch an older adult for signs of difficulty producing enough saliva to enhance chewing and swallowing of foods. Often, adults will remark on how dry his mouth feels, or that food often seems to get stuck in his throat. Sometimes, these adults often choke or sputter when swallowing liquids.

• 2

  Listen to any complaints of pain while swallowing any fluids or foods. This pain may come on gradually, and prompt only comments at first, that generally develop into genuine complaints about the difficulty of eating or drinking anything. Such individuals also often complain of a general sore throat that lingers and won't go away.

• 3

  Pay attention to any increase in difficulty eating specific types of food. Those suffering from dysphagia often choke or cough while eating or drinking. Such episodes should be noted for duration, occurrence and the type of food or drink being consumed.

• 4

  Observe the individual for any signs of belching, bad breath or drooling that were not present before. Often, a person with dysphagia is conscious of the gag reflex and is hesitant to brush teeth. Drooling is also a sign of abnormal conditions in the salivary glands.

• 5

  Pay attention to any complaints of pain or pressure in the middle of the chest. This sensation of pressure is often felt by older adults and may appear to be related to feelings of heartburn or acid indigestion. If symptoms don't go away or even worsen in the course of a few weeks, schedule a visit with your physician to determine a cause.