The term means “difficulty swallowing”. It means that food, liquid, or even saliva doesn’t move safely and efficiently from the mouth to the stomach. Causes can include neurological conditions (stroke, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, ALS), structural problems (tumors, strictures), muscle weakness, or aging.

Common symptoms include:

• Coughing or choking while eating or drinking
• Throat clearing during meals
• Wet or gurgly voice after swallowing
• Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
• Drooling or poor saliva control
• Feeling like food is “sticking” in the throat or chest
• Taking a long time to eat or drink
• Chewing difficulty or pocketing food in the cheeks
• Frequent throat or chest infections (possible aspiration pneumonia)
• Unexplained weight loss or dehydration
• Pain while swallowing (odynophagia)
• Avoiding certain foods or changes in eating habits