When caring for someone, and assisting that person with their ADLs (activities of daily life), it’s important to be aware of all relevant diagnoses or struggles. For example, if we are assisting someone to eat – engaging in mealtime management – we have to be aware of potential risks.
Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing, and it’s one of the biggest challenges when it comes to eating and drinking safely. It can be painful and can make swallowing physically impossible for some people.
When we discuss a difficulty with swallowing, we need to outline whether we are talking about a temporary infliction, such as eating too fast or not masticating (chewing food) well enough. These things can usually be helped with remembering to eat slower, encouraging others to take their time, and cutting food up smaller to help with the chewing process. But, persistent dysphagia can be very serious; it’s considered a medical condition that requires treatment. It can also occur at any age, so we need to stay alert at all times regardless of the age group we support at mealtimes.
Some of the main risks include choking, weight loss, dehydration, poor nutrition (due to limited nourishment) and even aspiration pneumonia, which is why it’s something everyone should be aware of.
If you’re wanting to know more about dysphagia, and how best to support someone with it, then read on.
What is the main cause of dysphagia?
Swallowing requires many muscles in your mouth to work together at one time. Anything that can obstruct or hinder the muscles and nerves used in this process could lead to dysphagia.
Typically, dysphagia is caused by another health condition such as:
- A stroke
- Head injury (TBI or ABI)
- Dementia
- Cancer (mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer)
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Cleft lip and palate
How to spot it
Clinicians such as Speech Pathologists will be able to spot dysphagia, but if there isn’t a clinician around to witness you, or someone you’re supporting, eating or drinking then it’s important to be aware of signs of difficulty swallowing.
Choking or coughing whilst drinking liquids that are thin (such as water) is a good indication that the muscles in the mouth are struggling.
But overall, there are four signs of dysphagia to be conscious of:
- As above, coughing or choking when drinking and/or eating
- Sensation of food stuck in the chest or throat
- Drooling of food and/or saliva
- Bringing food up again (through nose or mouth)
What are the four types of dysphagia?
To categorise dysphagia, it depends on the exact location of the swallowing issue:
- Esophageal
- Paraesophageal
- Esophagogastric
- Oropharyngeal
Can dysphagia be cured?
Treatment for dysphagia depends on the severity of it and what’s actually causing it.
For example, if you have acid reflux which is making it difficult for you to swallow, the issue might resolve itself over time without any external aid like medicine.
If the issue persists, though, then treatment – as advised by a relevant clinician – might include:
- Using assistive tools such as plates, cups or spoons to improve how food or drink is consumed
- Surgery to widen the oesophagus
- Changes to the food or drink eaten, for example eating softer foods and using a thickening agent in drinks
- Medicine to treat acid reflux
- Swallowing therapy with a Speech Pathologist
- Feeding tubes
With dysphagia, many cases of it can be majorly improved with treatment but a cure isn’t possible for everyone. Especially if it occurs due to a long-term medical condition.
Key takeaways
Learning what you can from someone’s mealtime management plan is one thing, but receiving up-to-date training and guidance from clinicians is the best way to ensure the risks of dysphagia are reduced.
If you, or someone you support, is showing signs of difficulty swallowing, then reach out to a medical practitioner today. The more aware you are of the signs, and the risks, the quicker we can act.
Curious to learn more about what we do at Kimberley Care Group? Read about our services here.
References:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/swallowing-disorders
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/For-Professionals/Clinical-Care/Managing-MS/Symptom-Management/Dysphagia#:~:text=Choking%20or%20coughing%20while%20drinking,the%20first%20sign%20of%20dysphagia.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK408/#:~:text=Dysphagia%20can%20be%20classified%20into,and%20paraesophageal%20(Figure%2082.1).