Are you having trouble swallowing? Speech therapy can help you!

Swallowing problems can result from a variety of neurological impairments including stroke, brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and ALS. Here are common symptoms:

• Poor lip closure
• Frequent drooling
• Food or liquid spilling from the mouth
• Food or liquid remaining in the mouth after meals
• Extra effort/time needed to chew
• Coughing during or right after meals
• Complaints of food "sticking"
• Globus sensation—complaints of a "fullness" in the neck
• Complaints of pain when swallowing
• Wet or 'gurgly' sounding voice during or after meals
• Difficulty coordinating breathing and swallowing
• Changes in eating habits—specifically, avoidance of certain foods/drinks
• Recurrent pneumonia