Overview
Dysphagia — difficulty swallowing — can affect people of all ages and may result from neurological conditions (such as stroke or Parkinson's disease), head and neck cancer treatment, structural abnormalities, or developmental delays in children. It can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia if untreated.
Our swallowing assessment includes a thorough clinical bedside evaluation and, where needed, instrumental assessment. We assess the oral, pharyngeal, and oesophageal stages of the swallow to pinpoint exactly where the difficulty lies.
Therapy includes swallowing exercises, postural compensations, dietary texture modifications, and caregiver education to ensure safe swallowing and adequate nutrition.
Benefits
- Accurate diagnosis of the site and nature of swallowing difficulty
- Reduced risk of aspiration and chest infections
- Swallowing exercises to strengthen the muscles involved
- Dietary modification recommendations for safe eating
- Caregiver training for mealtime safety at home
Who Is This For?
Adults recovering from stroke, neurological conditions, or head and neck cancer, elderly individuals experiencing increasing difficulty eating or drinking, and children with feeding difficulties or developmental swallowing problems.