Dysphagia
Pronunciation: dis-FAY-jee-ah
Difficulty or discomfort in swallowing food or liquids due to neurological or structural impairment.
Full Definition
Dysphagia refers to any difficulty with the swallowing process, from the oral preparatory phase through esophageal clearance. In rehabilitation medicine, dysphagia commonly occurs following stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or progressive neurological conditions. Assessment typically involves clinical bedside evaluation and instrumental assessments such as videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Management may include dietary modifications, swallowing strategies, and exercises to improve swallow safety and efficiency. Aspiration pneumonia is a serious complication of untreated dysphagia.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly misspelled as 'dysphagia' instead of correct 'dysphagia'; often confused with 'dysarthria' (speech disorder).
In Context
- "The patient's dysphagia required a pureed diet consistency and thickened liquids to prevent aspiration." — Dietary consultation note
- "Videofluoroscopic swallow study confirmed oropharyngeal dysphagia with penetration but no aspiration." — Diagnostic report