ABSTRACT
The pharyngeal stage begins when the bolus reaches the pharynx and triggers a swallowing response. In infants, cerebral palsy is a very common reason for swallowing difficulty. Speech-language pathologists (SLP) evaluate swallowing disorders and determine the best course of treatment, which may include changing a patient's diet or instructing the patient in safe swallowing techniques. SLPs are often the leaders of teams of individuals who address these issues. With a swallowing screen, the patient should be observed eating and drinking in a natural environment with their normal diet. Dysphagia difficulties noted in the oral preparatory stage are usually diagnosed by observing the patient eating and drinking. In the oral transport stage, the bolus moves from the front or middle of the mouth to the back. Problems in the esophageal stage are often reported by the patient. Dysphagia can be experienced by individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly.
