DYSPHAGIA - GENERAL SIGNS + SYMPTOMS

Visible symptoms

• Drooling + poor oral management

• Food + liquid remaining in oral cavity after swallow

• Food + liquid leaking from nasal cavity

• Wet / gurgly sounding voice during eating

• Coughing during / right after eating

• Difficulty coordinating breathing + swallowing

• Extra effort needed to chew / swallow

Complaint Symptoms

• Food “sticking”

• “Fullness” in neck / globus sensation

• Pain when swallowing

• Recurring aspiration pneumonia / respiratory infection

• Changes in eating habits - avoidance of certain food / drink

• Weight loss / dehydration from lack of eating

Penetration

foreign (non-air) materials such as food, drink, saliva, mucous, reflux  enters the larynx (laryngeal vestibule), remains ABOVE the glottis

Aspiration

 foreign material BELOW the glottis, entering the trachea