Treatment for aspiration related to dysphagia: An overview

Abstract

Aspiration of food during ingestion is the entry of material into the airway below the true vocal folds. It may occur as the result of a number of anatomical and physiological disturbances in deglutition in the oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal stages. In order for aspiration to be treated effectively and efficiently, it should be defined according to its etiology and timing in relation to the reflexive swallow, i.e., before, during, or after the swallow. Each physiological or anatomical etiology for aspiration requires a different management strategy. Treatment may involve compensatory strategies, such as postural changes or diet restraints, which alter the way food flows through the oral cavity or pharynx and usually have an immediate effect on aspiration. Or treatment may consist of exercise programs designed to have a long-term effect on neuromuscular control during the swallow and that require a longer time to take effect. Both compensatory techniques and exercise programs may be instituted simultaneously in some patients. Treatment procedures for the most frequently occurring physiological disorders of deglutition are described.