Signs include coughing during meals, a wet-sounding voice afterwards, food held in the mouth, or repeated chest infections. A speech and language therapist assesses it and recommends textures.
Aspiration pneumonia, caused by food or fluid reaching the lungs, is a common cause of death in advanced dementia.
Why it matters
It is the point at which mealtimes stop being about nutrition and start being about safety, and it needs professional assessment.
Sources
Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Alzheimer's Association: Food and eating
Dysphagia where you live
The local guide on this, for each city we cover.
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tucson, AZ