Swallowing Disorders
Speech Language Pathologists, Speech Therapy, Pediatric Speech Therapist & Pediatric Speech Pathologists located in Kew Gardens, NY
Swallowing disorders may cause occasional difficulty getting food from your mouth to your stomach, making it impossible to get the nutrition you need. If you have difficulty swallowing, Nathalia Fonseca, SLPD, CCC-SLP, TSSLD-BE, and the team at Bilingual Speech-Language & Swallowing Therapy, in the Forest Hills neighborhood of New York City, New York, can help. They evaluate swallowing and teach you how to overcome your challenges. Call the office or book an appointment online today to learn more about swallowing disorders.
A swallowing disorder means that you have a hard time moving food through your mouth, throat, and esophagus (the tube carrying food down to your stomach). In some cases, the problem may occur when food can’t pass into your stomach properly.
Difficulty swallowing, also called dysphagia, may cause choking or lead to food getting stuck in your throat or esophagus. The condition also increases your risk of developing nutritional deficiencies. Some people end up with aspiration pneumonia when they accidentally inhale fluids or bits of food into their lungs.
You can develop a swallowing disorder as a result of numerous health conditions affecting your nerves, brain, and muscles. Physical changes in your tongue, esophagus, or lower esophageal sphincter (the round muscle controlling the flow of food into your stomach) also affect swallowing.
The conditions that most often cause a swallowing disorder include:
Head and neck cancers, or radiation treatment for these conditions, often cause dysphagia.
People with swallowing disorders have one or more of the following:
You may also feel like something is stuck in your throat or have food left in your mouth that you can’t swallow.
The best treatment for a swallowing disorder depends on its cause. You may need medical care or help to improve your swallowing ability. The team at Bilingual Speech-Language & Swallowing Therapy improves swallowing using numerous techniques.
Your therapist may teach you how to use your muscles to chew and swallow or show you new ways to sit or hold your head that make swallowing easier. They can also teach you how to clear your throat when liquids or foods get stuck.
The Bilingual Speech-Language & Swallowing Therapy team may also recommend eating soft foods or ways to make drinks thicker.
If you or your child experience difficulty swallowing, don’t wait to seek help. Call Bilingual Speech-Language & Swallowing Therapy or book an appointment online today.