The normal swallow is a complex and dynamic process. This rapid and efficient process takes less than 2 seconds. During this brief time period the airway is closed and protected while the entry to the esophagus is open. Dysphagia is a difficulty in swallowing. Impairment may occur in any stage of the swallow.
Aspiration increases the chance of pneumonia.
Dysphagia may be related to a wide range of neurological disorders including Alzheimer's Disease, to tumors in the head and neck or to other medical conditions. Just as there are a wide range of causes, there also are a wide range of treatments. These include changes in positioning, modifications in the consistencies of foods and liquids, and techniques that alter the way a person swallows. Your physician or speech pathologist may recommend that food be pureed to create pudding-like consistency. Without a thickening agent the food pulp and the liquid separate in the pureeing process.