Swallowing Therapy

*Therapy services available in Washington DC, Tysons Corner and Reston, VA*

Difficulty swallowing or dysphagia can be characterized by having to swallow multiple times to clear food from the mouth or throat, a wet voice after swallowing, coughing or choking during mealtimes, effortful swallowing, the need to modify foods or liquids to ease consumption, prolonged mealtimes, and discomfort with swallowing.  These difficulties may be due to neurological, mechanical or behavioral reasons.

Therapy efforts for adults are designed to improve the safety, ease and efficiency of swallowing while optimizing enjoyment of mealtimes.  This may be accomplished through swallowing exercises and compensatory strategies.

Patients are asked to bring instrumental assessments such as a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and medical reports so that the appropriate program can be designed.