Dysphagia: warning signs and management

Abstract

Dysphagia is a condition in which patients have difficulty with some or all parts of the swallowing process. It can lead to penetration of food or drink into the larynx, which can cause aspiration. The prevalence varies but it is thought that 10% of acutely hospitalised elderly patients suffer from dysphagia. There are both obvious and less obvious indicators. Dysphagia is caused by a variety of conditions and can be short term or long term. It affects the patient physically, psychologically and socially. Because nurses spend the most time with patients, they are often the first ones to identify a problem. Therefore, it is sensible for nurses to be trained in how to screen patients for swallowing problems. They can then be referred to speech and language therapists for a formal and thorough assessment. There is a variety of national guidelines available to support health professionals in caring for these patients.

Keywords: Aspiration; Dysphagia; Health professionals; Screening; Speech and language therapists; Swallowing.