Dysphagia

(swallowing disorder): People with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and may also experience pain while swallowing. Some people may be completely unable to swallow or may have trouble swallowing liquids, foods, or saliva. Eating then becomes a challenge. Often, dysphagia makes it difficult to take in enough calories and fluids to nourish the body. Infants may have developmental delays causing difficulty in learning to suck, chew and/or swallow. Neonatal care is provided to infant populations who fail to thrive through typical feeding programs. Adults may experience difficulty chewing and swallowing as a result of an illness, stroke or progressive medical condition. Therapy may focus on retraining the swallow or teaching strategies to compensate for the swallowing disorder.