Dysphagia & Swallowing Program
Our dysphagia program provides specialized speech therapy to evaluate and treat swallowing disorders, helping patients eat safely and maintain nutrition.
We treat difficulty swallowing solids and liquids, coughing or choking during meals, aspiration risk, weight loss due to swallowing problems, and swallowing changes following stroke, surgery, or neurological conditions.
Our speech-language pathologists conduct comprehensive swallowing evaluations and develop individualized treatment plans that may include swallowing exercises, diet texture modifications, compensatory strategies, and caregiver education to ensure safe eating and drinking.
Your Results:
✓ Improve swallowing safety and reduce aspiration risk during meals
✓ Expand diet textures to enjoy more foods and maintain proper nutrition
✓ Strengthen oral motor function for more efficient swallowing
✓ Build confidence and independence during mealtimes
Who Is This Program For?
Patients experiencing swallowing difficulties due to stroke, neurological conditions, head and neck cancer treatment, aging, or other medical conditions. We serve both adults and pediatric patients with feeding challenges.
Delivery Model: Hybrid — evaluations in clinic, follow-up sessions via telehealth where appropriate
Why Choose Our Dysphagia & Swallowing Program?
Safe swallowing, better nutrition, and reduced aspiration risk
Specialized SLP Expertise
Our Speech-Language Pathologists have advanced training in dysphagia evaluation and evidence-based swallowing rehabilitation techniques.
Comprehensive Evaluation
Clinical swallowing assessments with instrumental referrals when needed to identify the exact nature of your swallowing difficulty.
Hybrid Care Flexibility
In-clinic evaluations paired with telehealth follow-ups and caregiver training for consistent progress at home.
Caregiver-Inclusive Approach
We train family members and caregivers in safe feeding techniques, diet modifications, and monitoring strategies.
Targeted Expertise
Our therapists combine advanced clinical training with compassionate, patient-centered care to deliver specialized treatment through:
Post-Stroke Swallowing
Rehabilitation of swallowing function after stroke, including compensatory strategies and progressive oral intake.
Neurological Dysphagia
Swallowing management for Parkinson's, MS, ALS, and other progressive neurological conditions.
Head & Neck Cancer Recovery
Swallowing rehabilitation during and after radiation, chemotherapy, or surgical treatment for head and neck cancers.
Aspiration Prevention
Safe swallow strategies, postural modifications, and diet texture adjustments to reduce aspiration pneumonia risk.
Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing
Evaluation and treatment of swallowing difficulties in infants and children with developmental or medical conditions.
Oral Motor Strengthening
Targeted exercises to improve tongue, lip, and jaw coordination for more effective swallowing mechanics.
Your Treatment Guide
Detailed information about your care plan, what to expect during treatment, and strategies you can use at home.
Treatment Guide
Understanding Dysphagia and Swallowing Therapy
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, affects millions of people and can result from stroke, neurological conditions, head and neck cancer treatment, aging, or other medical conditions. When swallowing does not work properly, food or liquid can enter the airway (aspiration), leading to pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and reduced quality of life.
Our Dysphagia & Swallowing program provides specialized evaluation and treatment from Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) who are experts in swallowing rehabilitation. We help you eat and drink safely, maintain nutrition, and enjoy mealtimes with greater confidence.
How Swallowing Therapy Helps
Swallowing therapy is not simply about learning to eat slowly. It is a clinical rehabilitation process that targets the specific muscles and coordination patterns involved in safe swallowing. Your SLP will conduct a thorough evaluation to understand exactly where the breakdown is occurring and design a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Therapy may include strengthening exercises for the tongue, lips, and throat muscles; compensatory swallowing strategies such as chin tucks or head turns; sensory stimulation techniques to improve swallow initiation; diet texture modifications to find the safest and most enjoyable food consistencies; and education for you and your family on safe eating practices.
What to Expect in a Session
Your first visit includes a comprehensive clinical swallowing evaluation. Your SLP will review your medical history, observe you eating and drinking various textures, and assess your oral motor function. If needed, your therapist may recommend an instrumental assessment such as a modified barium swallow study or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation.
Follow-up treatment sessions focus on progressive swallowing exercises, strategy practice during real meals, and ongoing monitoring of your swallowing safety. Sessions may be conducted in clinic or via telehealth, depending on your needs and the stage of your recovery.
During telehealth sessions, your SLP can observe your mealtime routines at home, coach you and your caregivers through safe feeding techniques, and adjust strategies based on your real-world eating environment.
Conditions We Treat
Our program addresses swallowing difficulties related to:
- Stroke and cerebrovascular events
- Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and ALS
- Traumatic brain injury
- Head and neck cancer (before, during, and after treatment)
- Post-intubation or post-surgical swallowing changes
- Age-related swallowing decline (presbyphagia)
- Pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
Home Strategies for Safe Swallowing
Between therapy sessions, there are practical steps you can take to support swallowing safety:
Posture during meals: Sit fully upright at 90 degrees during all meals and for 30 minutes afterward. Avoid eating while reclined or lying down.
Pace yourself: Take small bites and sips. Put your utensil down between bites and allow yourself time to swallow completely before the next bite.
Minimize distractions: Turn off the television and put away your phone during meals. Focusing on the act of eating helps your brain coordinate swallowing more effectively.
Follow your diet recommendations: If your SLP has recommended modified food textures or thickened liquids, follow these guidelines consistently. These modifications are designed to keep you safe.
Oral care: Good oral hygiene is essential. Brushing your teeth after meals reduces the bacteria in your mouth, which helps lower the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
Stay hydrated: If drinking thin liquids is difficult, work with your SLP to find safe alternatives. Proper hydration supports overall health and recovery.
When to Seek Help
Contact your therapist or physician if you experience frequent coughing or throat clearing during meals, a wet or gurgly voice quality after eating or drinking, food getting stuck in your throat, unexplained weight loss or dehydration, or recurrent pneumonia. These may be signs that your swallowing function has changed and your treatment plan needs to be updated.
Our Collaborative Approach
For patients with complex medical conditions, our SLPs coordinate with your medical team, including neurologists, oncologists, ENT physicians, and dietitians, to ensure comprehensive care. When swallowing difficulties coexist with other rehabilitation needs, we integrate dysphagia management into your broader interdisciplinary treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing food, liquids, or saliva. It can result from stroke, neurological conditions, head/neck cancer treatment, or aging and can lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, or dehydration.
How is swallowing evaluated?
Our SLPs conduct a clinical swallowing evaluation that may include observing you eat and drink, assessing oral motor function, and reviewing your medical history. Additional instrumental assessments may be recommended.
Can swallowing therapy be done via telehealth?
Follow-up sessions and caregiver training can be conducted via telehealth. Initial evaluations are typically done in person.
How long does swallowing therapy take?
Duration depends on the underlying cause. Some patients improve in a few sessions, while others with progressive conditions benefit from ongoing management.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us to learn more about our Dysphagia & Swallowing program or to schedule an evaluation with our expert therapists.