Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia, can occur at different stages of 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.

In Children:
• arching of stiffening of the body during feeding
• irritability or lack of alertness during feeding
• prolonged feeding times (more than 30 minutes)
• excessive drooling or leaking food/liquid from the mouth
• gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice quality
• coughing or gagging during meals or recently after meals
• recurring pneumonia or respiratory infections
• frequent spitting up
• less than normal weight gain or growth


In Adults:
• 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
• runny nose during eating, but not observed at other times
• reported or observed pain during swallowing
• temperature spikes after eating