Dysphagia Research Paper

Dysphagia is a term that covers the broad spectrum of swallowing disorders. These disorders are conditions that effect the swallowing process within children and adults, rendering them defenseless not only physically but emotionally. Swallowing disorders can occur in different stages of the swallowing process such as: the oral phrase, pharyngeal phase, esophageal phase. Regardless of the phase the disorders have developed, symptoms include coughing during or right after eating or drinking, recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating, and a gurgling voice during or after eating and drinking. Since individuals who suffer from dysphagia are not able to eat or drink efficiently due to difficulty swallowing they may experience serious results
If an individual can not interact with others during a social eating event, it may take a toll on their self awareness. “With the onset of dysphagia, they became emotionally fragile and insecure initially showing loss of self-esteem, limitations to their own social relationships, and, consequently, a tendency to isolation” (Farri, A., Accornero, A., & Burdese, C., 2007, p.83). Being handicapped in a social situation may leaded to other impairments within a persons’ personality, behavior, and beliefs. “Patients with dysphagia can become isolated, feel excluded by others, and be anxious and distressed at mealtimes. Dysphagia affects a patient's dignity, self-esteem, and the regard of others.” (Ekberg, O., Hamdy, S., Woisard, V., Wuttge-Hannig, A., & Ortega, P.,2002,p.140). Dysphasia places a toll on a humanly sacred part of life which results feelings of isolation, embarrassment and weakened self
A few physical consequences of dysphasia include aspiration which may further cause pneumonia, also malnourishment caused by a disrupt in eating habits. Besides physical handicap, individuals suffer from low self esteem and low social drive do to the embarrassment of their disorder. Dysphasia has strong ties between physical and mental health that effects a person day-to- day