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DIGESTIVE SERVICES

Diagnosis & Treatment

Dysphagia

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How Is Dysphagia Diagnosed?

How Is Dysphagia Diagnosed?

If you have trouble swallowing, your doctor will likely ask you about your medical history and symptoms. Testing depends on the symptoms you are having and the most likely cause. After the initial consultation, you may need to be seen by a specialized physician, who may order one or more tests to confirm a diagnosis

Testing for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

  • Modified barium swallow study: During this test, a speech-language pathologist will give you different liquids and foods coated in barium to assess how you swallow. The barium allows images of the mouth, throat, and esophagus to be seen with X-ray images. This helps your provider better understand how you swallow and where food may get caught or stuck in the throat.
  • Flexible laryngoscopy: Performed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician, this test involves placing a small camera in the nose to evaluate the throat.
  • Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES): To perform this test, a speech-language pathologist will insert a small camera through the nose and into the throat to assess the swallowing of different liquids and foods.

Testing for Esophageal Dysphagia

  • Upper endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): For this test, a gastroenterologist will insert a flexible camera through the mouth to assess the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel for any abnormalities. If needed, a small sample of body tissue (a biopsy) will be taken. During an upper endoscopy, doctors can also perform further testing and treatments, including dilatations (widening) of narrowed areas.
  • Esophagram: For this test, you are given liquid barium to ingest, and X-rays are taken to evaluate your swallowing, as well as your entire esophagus as it empties into your stomach. A tablet may also be given, and X-rays will be taken to assess if it passes.
  • High-resolution esophageal manometry: During this test, a thin tube is inserted through the nose into the esophagus and stomach, and you will be given small sips of salt water to measure the strength of your esophageal muscles squeezing as you swallow, as well as the function of the sphincter valve (lower esophageal sphincter) between the stomach and the esophagus to ensure it is opening and closing correctly to regulate flow into and up from the stomach.

How Is Dysphagia Treated?

How Is Dysphagia Treated?

Treatment for dysphagia depends on the cause and type of dysphagia. Sometimes, this condition will resolve on its own without treatment. However, if dysphagia persists, there are many treatments available that are targeted to the specific type of dysphagia.

If treatment is needed, your doctor may suggest several options, including:

Dietary changes

Your provider may suggest a change in diet to reduce your risk of choking or aspiration while suffering from dysphagia. Your doctor will assess your dysphagia and talk to you about what kinds of food and drink are best for you, and how you should prepare them.

They may also recommend changes in how you eat, including sitting up straight while eating, eating slowly, chewing your food well, and reducing distractions while eating.

Therapies & exercises

Learning special swallowing techniques or practicing coordination exercises can help ease difficulty swallowing in some cases. Your doctor may instruct you on how to position food in your mouth or how to move your throat while swallowing to minimize symptoms.

Medication & other therapies

In some cases, medications, endoscopic therapies, and surgery may be needed to treat the cause of your dysphagia. These dysphagia treatments are specific to the type of condition you are experiencing and the final diagnosis after an evaluation.

FAQs

FAQs

Yes. Depending on the cause of your condition, your doctor may prescribe dysphagia medications to help treat the condition.

Anyone can develop dysphagia, but certain risk factors can make one more likely to develop the condition, including older age and other health conditions that affect muscles and the nervous system.

There are many different causes of dysphagia involving the oropharynx (mouth and throat) and the esophagus. Dysphagia is a symptom that can be triggered by various conditions that affect any of the structures in the mouth, throat, and esophagus.

Yes. If you have persistent dysphagia, you likely will need further testing with an appropriate health care provider. Tests will be targeted to the specific type of dysphagia you likely have. Testing often involves using a small camera to assess the affected area as well as special X-rays to evaluate your swallowing.

Dysphagia can lead to choking and aspiration, which can be life-threatening. If you are having trouble swallowing, speak to your doctor immediately.

Many cases of dysphagia can resolve independently or be treated with good results. Unfortunately, not every case can be cured, and lifetime management may be necessary.

Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Dysphagia Treatment

If you have developed dysphagia, having a medical team that fully understands your symptoms and can create a comprehensive care plan is important. With so many different causes of dysphagia, this condition requires expertise, compassion, and experience. The doctors at NewYork-Presbyterian doctors can provide a diagnosis and offer cutting-edge dysphagia treatment personalized to your specific case.