Dysphagia in adults refers to difficulty in swallowing, encompassing problems in the oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal phases of the swallowing process. It often results from neurological conditions, structural anomalies, or systemic diseases, leading to risks like aspiration, malnutrition, and dehydration.
1. Oral Dysphagia – Difficulty with chewing or moving food/liquid from the mouth to the throat.
2. Pharyngeal Dysphagia – Impairments in initiating a swallow or in the movement of food through the throat; often linked to neurological causes.
3. Esophageal Dysphagia – Difficulty with food passing through the esophagus into the stomach, often due to motility disorders or structural narrowing (e.g., strictures, tumors).
Rosenbek, J. C., Roecker, E. B., Wood, J. L., & Robbins, J. (1996). The dysphagia outcome and severity scale. Dysphagia, 11(2), 93–98.
Cichero, J. A. Y., & Murdoch, B. E. (2006). Dysphagia: Foundation, Theory and Practice. Wiley.
