Dysphagia: A Short Review of the Current State

Abstract

Dysphagia is the clinical expression of disruption of the synchronized activity surrounding the normal swallowing mechanism. It results from a large number of causes including neurologic, myopathic, metabolic, inflammatory/autoimmune, infectious, structural, iatrogenic, and psychiatric diseases. It can have a significant impact on social and psychologic levels, as well as overall health, and is crucial to a patient's sense of well-being. Dysphagia is very common and is presently considered an alarm symptom that requires immediate attention. This article reviews current literature on the subject and summarizes the state of knowledge regarding the prevalence, classification, identification, management, and treatment of this condition. It also considers the diverse effects of cultural variables on dysphagia service delivery and capacity. Implications for practice are targeted to the members of a dysphagia multidisciplinary team, including several professional domains: speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, and nursing and medical staff. Possible directions for future research are indicated.