April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, and this past Monday, April 11th was World Parkinson’s Day. We’ve been posting information to spread awareness about PD on our Instagram page all month, so head on over to @Lotus_SLP to see what we’ve shared. Last year, we posted a blog with some general information about speech therapy for Parkinson’s Disease. This year, I’d like to focus attention on one of the domains speech therapists work on with people with PD: dysphagia.
What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing, and it can occur across the three stages of the swallow (oral, pharyngeal and esophageal). Some people with Parkinson’s disease experience dysphagia due to slow and rigid muscle movements in the face and throat. These changes in chewing and swallowing can happen at any point over the course of Parkinson’s, but they tend to increase as the disease progresses. Dysphagia is a concern because it can lead to aspiration (when food/liquid enters the lungs), malnutrition and/or dehydration. Aspiration pneumonia results from bacteria entering the lungs during the swallow.
What are the warning signs?
Common warning signs of dysphagia include:
- Difficulty chewing, including needing prolonged time to chew your food
- Coughing or clearing your throat when eating or drinking
- Difficulty keeping food/liquid in your mouth and/or drooling
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling of food sticking in your throat
- Food collecting in your mouth
What can you do?
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the symptoms above, a referral to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is warranted. An SLP will evaluate your swallowing function and make recommendations that may include exercises to complete, safety strategies to use and/or modifications to your diet. A few examples of general safety strategies for swallowing include:
- Eat slowly.
- Take small bites and sips of food and liquid.
- Swallow all food in your mouth before adding more.
- Alternate solids and liquids.
A full assessment and personalized treatment plan is recommended for anyone experiencing dysphagia.
Dysphagia can be concerning, however there is hope! There are many strategies and changes you can make to your eating habits to maintain safety and allow you to continue to enjoy your favorite foods.