Swallowing Disorders

If you have a swallowing disorder, you may have pain when swallowing food, liquids or saliva, or you may not be able to swallow at all. Anyone can have a swallowing disorder, but it is more likely among the elderly. It often happens because of other conditions, such as:

• Nervous system disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy
  
• Problems with the esophagus
  
• Stroke
  
• Head or spinal cord injury
  
• Cancer 

Medicines may 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. If you experience any difficulty swallowing, speak to your physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.