Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia (dis FAY juh), can occur at different stages in the swallowing process:
- oral phase-- sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat
- pharyngeal phase-- triggering the swallowing reflex, squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway (aspiration) or to prevent choking
- esophageal phase-- relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the feeding tube in the throat (esophagus) and squeezing food through the esophagus into the stomach
Some causes of feeding and swallowing problems in adults are:
Damage to the nervous system, such as:
- Stroke
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Parkinson' s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cerebral palsy
- Alzheimer's disease
Problems affecting the head and neck, including:
- Cancer in the mouth, throat, or esophagus
- Injury or surgery involving the head and neck
- Decayed or missing teeth, or poorly fitting dentures
Many other diseases, conditions, or surgical interventions can result in swallowing problems. General signs may include:
- coughing during or right after eating or drinking
- wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
- extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
- food or liquid leaking from the mouth or getting stuck in the mouth
- recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
- weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough
As a result, adults may have:
- poor nutrition or dehydration
- risk of aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway) which can lead to pneumonia and chronic lung disease
- less enjoyment of eating or drinking
- embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating
The Modified Barium Swallow, (MBS), is a diagnostic test we use to determine if an individual is aspirating food or liquid into their lungs while they are swallowing. In order to understand why we need a MBS, we need to understand the process of swallowing. Most people take swallowing for granted; however, it is actually a complex reflex consisting of four distinct phases. In short, we bite and chew our food while our tongue works to form it into a cohesive ball. Once this ball is formed we push it to the back of our mouth with our tongue where it makes contact with the back of our throat and triggers the swallow reflex. The food is quickly passed through the upper throat and into the esophagus where it can be digested by the stomach. Food improperly swallowed can become stuck in the throat or be aspirated into the lungs, and can cause Pneumonia.
MODIFIED BARIUM SWALLOW STUDY
The MBS is a simple procedure performed in our imaging department. The test is conducted by a trained Speech Pathologist and Radiology Technician. During the test, an individual is given a variety of barium coated foods and liquids of various textures and consistencies. As the individual swallows these items, the process is video taped by x-ray. The barium allows us to trace the path of the food from the mouth into the esophagus. The video is reviewed and the Speech Pathologist determines which textures are safer for the patient to swallow, and if positional changes or modified swallowing techniques can help prevent aspiration.
To receive a Modified Barium Swallow, a patient must have a written referral which includes:
- Diagnosis
- Discipline: Speech Therapy
- Specifics of Treatment: Modified Barium Swallow Study & Swallow Treatment
- Precautions (if any)
To speak with the Speech Pathologist, or make an appointment please call
386 326-8500
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