• Dysphagia is a medical condition characterized by difficulty swallowing. It can occur at different stages of the swallowing process-oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal.

  • Oral Dysphagia: Difficulty moving food or liquid from the mouth to the back of the throat.

    • Symptoms: Drooling, difficulty chewing, food spilling from the mouth, or trouble moving food to the back of the throat.

  • Pharyngeal Dysphagia: Difficulty passing food or liquid through the throat.

    • Symptoms: Choking, coughing, gagging during or after swallowing, and feeling like food is stuck in the throat.

  • Esophageal Dysphagia: Difficulty moving food down the esophagus to the stomach, often due to a blockage or narrowing in the esophagus.

    • Symptoms: Feeling of food sticking in the chest or throat, regurgitation, and heartburn.

  • Causes:

    • Neurological Disorders: Conditions like stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can impair the nerves and muscles responsible for swallowing.

    • Structural Issues: Obstructions, tumors, or narrowing of the esophagus can cause dysphagia. Conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cervical spine problems, or esophageal cancer can contribute.

    • Aging: Swallowing function naturally declines with age, leading to a higher risk of dysphagia in older adults.

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• Feeding disorders encompass difficulties related to eating, such as problems with food intake, preferences, and behaviors. These disorders often affect infants and children but can also persist into adulthood.

  • Infant or Pediatric Feeding Disorders:

  • Selective Eating: Refusal to eat certain foods or food groups, leading to limited or unbalanced diets.

  • Failure to Thrive (FTT): A condition in which an infant or child does not gain weight or grow as expected, often due to difficulty eating or absorbing nutrients.

  • Picky Eating: A common issue in toddlers and children, where they may refuse certain textures, flavors, or types of food.

  • Oral-Motor Feeding Difficulties: Trouble with sucking, swallowing, or chewing in infants and children, often seen in babies with neurological or developmental conditions.

• Symptoms:

  • Difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding in infants.

  • Gagging, choking, or coughing during meals.

  • Difficulty transitioning from liquids to solid foods.

  • Excessive or severe food refusal or eating only a limited range of foods.

• Causes:

  • Developmental Delays: Children with conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, or down syndrome may have feeding issues related to oral-motor skills and sensory sensitivities.

  • Sensory Processing Issues: Some children have heightened sensitivity to the textures, smells, or tastes of food, leading to food aversions.

  • Psychological Factors: Emotional or behavioral factors, such as a traumatic feeding experience or anxiety, can contribute to feeding disorders.

  • Medical Conditions: Gastrointestinal issues (e.g., reflux), neurological conditions, or structural abnormalities (e.g., cleft lip or palate) may impact a child's ability to feed properly.

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• ​Oropharyngeal dysphagia specifically refers to difficulty swallowing caused by problems with the mouth and throat muscles. This type of swallowing disorder is common in both children and adults with neurological or muscular conditions.

  • Symptoms:

    • Difficulty chewing or sucking.

    • Food or liquid spilling from the mouth.

    • Coughing or choking while eating or drinking.

    • Sensation of food "getting stuck" in the throat.

  • Causes: Neurological conditions (stroke, ALS, Parkinson’s disease), aging, or developmental issues (e.g., cerebral palsy) can lead to oropharyngeal dysphagia.

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• Aspiration occurs when food, liquid, or saliva enters the airway (trachea) instead of the esophagus, leading to a risk of choking or aspiration pneumonia.

  • Symptoms:

    • Coughing or choking after eating or drinking.

    • Frequent respiratory infections or pneumonia.

    • Wheezing or hoarseness.

    • Difficulty breathing during or after meals.

  • Causes: Aspiration can result from dysphagia due to neurological disorders (stroke, ALS, Parkinson's disease), structural abnormalities, or weakened swallowing muscles (e.g., due to age or illness).

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• GERD is a chronic digestive condition where stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe (esophagus), potentially leading to swallowing difficulties.

  • Symptoms:

    • Heartburn, regurgitation of food or acid.

    • Chest pain, trouble swallowing, and hoarseness.

    •  Coughing or wheezing, especially after eating.

  • Causes: GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is weak or relaxes inappropriately, allowing stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus.