When dysphasia occurs, it can make eating certain foods quite challenging and it can result in a person not getting enough calories and fluids to sustain the body, which can result in other medical complications.

There are fifty pairs of muscles and various nerves which are responsible for receiving food into the mouth, preparing it and moving it into the stomach. Swallowing is a complicated process which occurs in three distinct phases, the first is referred to as the “oral phase,” in which the tongue receives food or liquid and prepares it to be swallowed. Through moving food around on the tongue and jaw, solid food is broken down and made easier to swallow through the introduction of saliva. Saliva softens and moistens the food, making it easier to swallow.

The second phase of swallowing starts when the tongue pushes the food or liquid to be back of the throat. Once food reaches the back of the throat, the swallowing response is triggered and the substance then moves through the pharynx, this is called the “pharyngeal phase.” The larynx will close tightly and breathing stops in order to keep substances from entering the airway and lungs.

The third and final phase begins when the food goes through the esophagus, which is the tube that carries it to the stomach. Passing through the esophagus will usually take about three seconds, depending on the type, consistency and texture of the food or liquid. The “esophageal phase,” can take several seconds but might be longer, if a person is swallowing a tablet or capsule.

Dysphasia happens when there is a problem with any of the structures involved in swallowing food. A weak tongue or cheek muscles can make it harder for a person to move food around the mouth and chew it up properly. Suffering a stroke or certain central nervous system disorders can all make it difficult for a person to swallow and other causes can be attributed to throat cancer surgery or an injury to the windpipe, or it can also result from having esophageal structural disorders as well.

Despite what people might think, dysphasia can be a serious or life-threatening condition for some individuals. Someone unable to swallow food or liquids may be unable to eat or drink enough to keep the body healthy or maintain an ideal body weight. Food particles that are too big to pass through the throat safely present a choking hazard and substances can enter into the airway and travel to the lungs causing harmful bacterial growth, which can result in aspiration pneumonia.

There are different types of treatments available for dysphasia and medical doctors and speech pathologists use a variety of methods to evaluate and treat swallowing disorders. For some individuals with dysphasia, treatment can include exercises to strengthen weakened facial muscles and improve coordination. However, some people are able to be trained to eat in a special way or may need food prepared in a certain way to avoid choking. In worst cases of dysphasia, it can mean consuming food or liquids is no longer possible orally and these individuals may need to use other methods to receive nourishment, such as a feeding tube.

Medical researchers are conducting research studies to determine what can be done to improve the lives of people suffering from dysphasia. Every aspect of the swallowing process is being studied in people of all ages, including those that do not suffer from the disorder