Swallowing Difficulties and Treatment at Jefferson
Swallowing is a complex function involving the mouth, throat and esophagus. Difficulty in swallowing (known as dysphagia) is common among all age groups, especially the elderly. Several problems can arise that will affect your swallowing function, including:
- Globus (a feeling of a lump in the throat)
- Slow, difficult and painful swallowing
- Chronic cough
- Gagging and choking
- Aspiration
- Inability to maintain nutrition and hydration
If you are experiencing any of the abovementioned symptoms that are not clearing up on their own, seek comprehensive, state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment at the Jefferson Voice and Swallowing Center. Our otolaryngologists will evaluate your swallowing function by performing one or more of the following tests:
- Endoscopic swallowing evaluation
- Transnasal esophagosocopy
- Video fluoroscopic swallow evaluation
- Esophageal manometry
Additionally, our speech-language pathologists of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine may perform a bedside swallowing examination to assist in diagnosing and treating the problem.
Some common disorders that affect swallowing include stroke, Parkinson's disease, gastroesophageal disease (GERD), cervical spine disease, Zenker's diverticulum, chronic neurological degenerative diseases and head and neck cancer.
After you have been evaluated, our Center physicians and therapists can recommend a treatment option that is right for you – such as medication, integrative and complementary medicine techniques or surgery.