13. Swallowing Difficulties in Dementia: An Overlooked Challenge
As dementia progresses, swallowing difficulties, or dysphagia, can become a major challenge. This can lead to a range of problems, from refusing to eat to choking hazards, malnutrition, and aspiration pneumonia, a serious condition where food or liquid enters the lungs.
Swallowing is a complex process that involves several stages, from chewing food to moving it down the throat and into the stomach. Dementia can disrupt this process at any stage. For instance, the individual may forget to chew the food or have difficulty coordinating the muscles involved in swallowing.
Recognizing and managing swallowing difficulties in dementia is critical. The signs can be subtle – coughing or clearing the throat during meals, avoiding certain food types, or a gurgling voice can all indicate a problem. In severe cases, recurrent chest infections or weight loss may occur.
Strategies to manage swallowing difficulties can vary based on the specific issue. For example, if chewing is a problem, providing soft or pureed foods can be helpful.
If the individual tends to eat too quickly, prompting them to slow down and take smaller bites can reduce the risk of choking. In some cases, a speech and language therapist may provide specific swallowing exercises or strategies. (13)
