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Swallowing Disorders Synonym(s): Reviewed 11-6-2002 Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague Studies with patients Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What are Swallowing Disorders?Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations What are Swallowing Disorders? Swallowing disorders - defined as difficulty in passing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach - occur in all age groups, but especially in the elderly. The disorders can occur at any stage of the normal swallowing process, in which food and liquid move from the mouth, through the pharynx, into the esophagus, and finally, into the stomach. The disorders are common in individuals with degenerative neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), postpolio syndrome, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease, and may be the first symptom of the disease. They may also occur after sudden neurological damage as in stroke, or head or spinal cord injury, or indicate other problems, such as the presence of cancer or heart problems. People with swallowing disorders may suffer from weight loss or dehydration and may be at risk for developing pneumonia. Some individuals notice that the disorders get worse at times of stress or excitement. Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research (NIDCR)
National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
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