Tips for Caregivers: Helping Adults With Feeding or Swallowing Disorders

(Rockville, MD) With an estimated one in six adults experiencing swallowing difficulties, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is encouraging the public to learn more about swallowing disorders (called dysphagia) and how to better support people who need help eating and drinking safely. This is a timely message—June is recognized as National Dysphagia Awareness Month.

Dysphagia can result from various causes. These include damage to the brain or nerves (from injuries or diseases including stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease); problems with the head, neck, or mouth (e.g., from cancer in the mouth, throat, or esophagus); or for other reasons such as medications that cause dry mouth.

Swallowing problems can lead to other medical issues such as dehydration, pneumonia, and aspiration (food going into the airway) as well as social isolation if a person withdraws from eating with others. For these reasons and more, it’s critical that people talk to their doctor if they suspect a swallowing problem. Ask for a referral to a speech-language pathologist (SLP)—a professional who diagnoses and treats dysphagia.

Help from caregivers, companions, and loved ones is key to recovery or successful management of dysphagia. Here are meaningful ways to assist a person with swallowing difficulties:

1. Provide support. Whether a person needs encouragement to seek help or is having a tough time with the treatment and recovery process, support from others is crucial.
2. Be an advocate. Accompany the person to their swallowing evaluation and follow-up appointments. Help them deal with insurance issues and paperwork. Ask questions of the doctor and/or SLP to understand the problem and treatment recommendations.
3. Prepare food. If treatment involves a modified diet, help prepare food or liquid to the recommended textures. An SLP will advise about what food and drink a person should consume.
4. Help them with muscle movement exercises. Exercises to improve muscle movement are often part of dysphagia treatment, and an SLP should recommend these exercises. Help the person with their exercises regularly.  
5. Take notes. A person with dysphagia may need to track how much food or liquid they consume for their doctor or SLP. Help them keep a log of these details.
6. Show up. Because food and eating are often central to social situations, people with swallowing problems can retreat from participating and become very lonely. Visit them often, and help them find and attend social gatherings where food and eating are not involved.

For more information, and to find an ASHA-certified SLP (look for one that specializes in feeding and swallowing), visit www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 228,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders.