Do you have a swallowing problem?

If you ask any therapist the number of times they have been told 'no I don't' when asking this question to one of their patients, only to later discover that they actually do, I bet they would say it happens all the time. It definitely does in my clinic. I also understand why and I'm on a mission to inform and educate on the importance of this question and getting the right answer.

This blog is written with people with Parkinson’s in mind but a lot of the information is also useful for other conditions that affect swallowing.

Firstly, let’s start with 6 facts about swallowing problems in people living with Parkinson's and the reasons why therapists and other healthcare professionals are asking about it.

1) Research suggests that eating and swallowing difficulties affect about 80-90% of all people with Parkinson’s.

2) Difficulty swallowing is called Dysphagia. Dysphagia can happen at any stage of Parkinson’s disease even the early stages.

3) Signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe.

4) The leading cause of death in Parkinson's is linked to aspiration pneumonia due to swallowing problems.

5) Evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders are performed by a speech & language therapist.

6) Swallowing disorders are treatable.

We need to identify any swallowing problems early as then we have more time to maintain swallowing abilities and ultimately quality of life.

You might be asking - How do I know if I have a swallowing problem? What are the signs and symptoms? What should I be thinking about when answering the question 'Do you have a swallowing problem?'

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help with this, if you answer yes to one or more of these questions you should seek advice from a health professional, preferably a speech therapist.

1) Have you recently developed difficulty swallowing pills?

2) Do you present with drooling (too much saliva)?

3) Do you sometimes cough whilst eating or just after swallowing / eating?

4) Do you have a wet or gurgly voice after eating or drinking?

5) Do you get watery eyes or changes in breathing patterns after eating?

6) Do you have the feeling of something stuck in your throat?

7) Does food remaining in your mouth after swallowing?

8) Do you have difficulty chewing?

9) Do you have a loss of appetite?

10) Have you suffered with unintentional weight loss?

11) Have you had recurrent chest infections?

12) Does it take you longer to finish a meal?

13) Are there certain foods that you avoid nowadays?

Remember help is available. As speech therapists our role is not only to help you to 'fix' things but to educate and empower you with information so that you will be able to manage your symptoms if / when they turn up. Sometimes just understanding what is going on is half the problem solved. Don't be scared to reach out and seek answers.

References

Suttrup, I., Warnecke, T. Dysphagia in Parkinson’s Disease. Dysphagia 31, 24–32 (2016).

www.epda.eu.com