Patients who are suffering from the early signs of dysphagia may complain of one or more of the following symptoms:

• Problems chewing or painful chewing
• Dry mouth (xerostomia)
• Difficulty controlling material in the mouth
• Feeling of an obstruction in the throat
• Food sticking in the throat
• Change of eating patterns such as eating slowly or avoiding social events
• Regurgitation of food or drink either orally or nasally
• Symptoms of heartburn
• "Wet voice" quality, gurgling sounds or hoarseness
• Coughing or spluttering before, during or after eating
• Excessive saliva production
• Unexplained weight loss
• Recurrent chest infections

Patients showing signs of swallowing difficulties should be referred for formal assessment. This assessment is usually undertaken by a speech and language specialist. As dysphagia can be life threatening, early diagnosis is critical.

Dysphagia that is associated with difficulty swallowing both solids and liquids is generally caused by motor or motility disorders. A physical obstruction is usually associated with initial difficulty swallowing solids progressing to difficulty swallowing liquids as the obstruction worsens.

Management of dysphagia

Dysphagia is usually managed through a combination of practical measures and advice alongside a medication review. It is important to first assess the extent of the swallowing difficulties and their likely causes.