Dysphagia

Esophageal dysphagia typically results from a motility disorder or a physical obstruction that prevents food and drink from passing easily through the esophagus. Motility disorders and obstructions that lead to esophageal dysphagia include:

• A narrowing of the esophagus (strictures)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
• Achalasia or other motility disorders such as Jackhammer esophagus
• A benign or cancerous growth or blockage
• Zenker’s diverticulum

Learn About Esophageal Dysphagia 
We use a variety of tests to diagnose esophageal dysphagia. It can often be alleviated with minimally invasive surgical or endoscopic procedures.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is more likely to occur in older adults and is often linked to radiation following radiation treatment for cancer, a neurological condition, or a muscular disorder including:

• Stroke
• Dementia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Traumatic brain injury
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Learn About Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
This type of dysphagia benefits from therapy provided by speech pathologists. They create a personalized program of rehabilitative swallowing exercises to help prevent choking and gagging and create a safer environment for swallowing.