Swallowing Program

If you have difficulty chewing or swallowing, our Swallowing (Dysphagia) Program can help.

What Causes Swallowing Problems?

Swallowing disorders can result from:

• Brain injury
• Stroke
• Head and neck cancer
• Degenerative disease
  
• Parkinson’s disease
• Neurological disorders

What Can Be Treated?

Our program professionals can help:

• Improve airway protection to reduce or eliminate trouble with swallowing or aspiration
• Improve the efficiency of eating and drinking to meet your nutritional needs
• Maintain the least restrictive diet throughout your cancer treatment
• Manage side effects from cancer treatments to allow you to eat and drink as comfortably as possible

What You Can Expect

Your therapy will begin with an evaluation by a speech pathologist who will examine how the muscles of your face and throat work together to enable swallowing. We’ll also evaluate your ability to swallow different types of food and drink. Sometimes further evaluation is necessary. If this is the case, the speech pathologist will thoroughly explain each test and the reason for it.

Your swallowing therapy treatment program will be based on your individual needs. It may include:

• Diet modification training
• Strategies and techniques to help you swallow more effectively
• Exercises to strengthen the muscles you use for swallowing