Swallowing Disorder Rehabilitation (Dysphagia)

Impaired swallowing function is the difficulty or inability to crush or move food safely from the mouth to the stomach.

There are several stages to swallowing; namely, in the first stage, food enters the mouth and is then chewed and mixed with saliva. In the second stage, food is pushed into the esophagus while the vocal cords are closed to prevent food from entering the lungs. In the third stage, food passes through the esophagus and into the stomach. Food is pushed into the stomach via peristalsis by muscles in the esophagus.

Symptoms or complaints of swallowing disorders, including:

• Difficulty pushing food
• Coughing or choking feeling when swallowing
• Voice changes to become nasal or hoarse
• The taste of food lingers in the throat, neck, or chest
• Excess salivation
• Vomit

Causes of swallowing disorders, namely swallowing nerve and muscle disorders, will disrupt coordination between muscles so that chewing movements and tongue movements cannot push food effectively. Nerve disorders can also cause reduced function of the food sensor in the mouth, which functions to start the swallowing process. Diseases that cause this disorder include stroke, neurological diseases (such as Parkinson's and brain tumors), scleroderma (which causes the lower part of the esophagus to become narrow), achalasia (a condition in which the esophagus narrows due to excessive muscle work in the esophagus), tetanus infection, polio, and rabies. Structural disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. If there is a mass or object that blocks the passage from the mouth to the esophagus, it will make it difficult for food to enter. Apart from objects or mass, the esophagus can become narrowed if there is damage, which makes it difficult for food to enter. Diseases that cause this disorder, such as:

• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which is the release of stomach acid that damages the esophageal tissue so that it narrows
• Tumor mass pressing on the digestive tract
• Narrowing of the esophagus

The purpose of examining swallowing function is to determine the safest way and type of food to be given orally (by mouth) and to determine swallowing function disorders so that appropriate rehabilitation management can be determined.

Dysphagia rehabilitation goals, namely:

• Respiration (preventing the entry of food into the airway)
• Nutrition (prevent food, nutrition, and fluid deficiencies)
• Economy and reducing health expenses
• Physiology (restoring normal swallowing function)
• Quality of Life (restored participation at mealtimes and enjoyment at meals)

Effective rehabilitation will depend on the correct and individualized diagnosis of the treatment plan and the specific physiology of the disorder.

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