About swallowing disorders
People swallow hundreds of times each day, whether they are swallowing foods, liquids, or excess saliva in the mouth. The action of swallowing can largely be taken for granted until there is a problem. Life with a swallowing problem, such as dysphagia, can be quite miserable. The symptoms include drooling, discomfort in the throat and chest, coughing, or the sensation of a lump in the throat. Fortunately, a speech pathologist can provide therapy treatments that will help swallowing problems.
If you are having trouble with feeding or swallowing, seek professional help as soon as possible. You could be at risk of aspiration. You can visit one of the qualified speech pathologists in Sydney to receive treatments that will help you swallow safely and effectively. Therapy will reduce any of the dysphagia symptoms that you are experiencing.
The first step to swallowing therapy is typically an alteration in diet. This means avoiding foods that are causing you trouble. Certain foods and beverages are more likely to “go down the wrong way.” Also some foods that are high in acid are related to causing reflux. Reflux is often a factor in swallowing disorders. Simple measures like reducing or eliminating the consumption of problem foods and beverages can help alleviate feeding and swallowing disorders.
Speech-language pathologists play a primary role in the evaluation and treatment of infants, children and adults with swallowing and feeding disorders. Working with children with feeding and swallowing disorders requires specialized knowledge and skills to best meet the needs of this population. A speech pathologist can improve the swallowing process and get it back to working form by providing therapy techniques that will strengthen the throat muscles. Patients will learn postures that will help improve swallowing. A speech pathologist can help you with very specific methods of gargling and swallowing. This will help improve and repair any weakness in the throat that is impeding your ability to swallow.
A speech-language pathologist who specializes in treating children with feeding and swallowing disorders can evaluate your child. If you have questions or concerns about feeding and swallowing disorders contact your local doctor, who will arrange for you to see a speech pathologist. We‘ll provide you with a straightforward, efficient and very effective treatment plan targeted to your concerns.
