Derived from the Greek prefixes “dys”, meaning bad or disordered, and “phago”, meaning eat, dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing. Long-term dysphagia may lead to aspiration and pneumonia.

Statistics

– Dysphagia affects 18 million people in the U.S.

– 45%-87% of residents in long-term care suffer from dysphagia.

– One out of every 17 people will eventually develop dysphagia. 

– Pneumonia, largely caused by swallowing problems and aspiration, is a leading cause of death in Americans over 65 years of age.

How to treat dysphagia using ESP>>