JuniperPublishers_Head Neck & Spine Surgery

      Juniper Publishers-Open Access  Journal of                    Head Neck & Spine Surgery Dysphagia: Approach to Assessment and Treatment Authored by Lalsa Shilpa Perepa Introduction Dysphagia is a medical term used to describe a swallowing disorder. It may refer to a swallowing disorder involving any one of the 3 stages of swallowing: oral, pharyngeal, esophageal. It is not a primary medical diagnosis, but a symptom of a disease, & therefore is described most often by its clinical characteristics. Dysphagia is delay in or misdirection of a fluid or solid bolus as it moves from mouth to the stomach. Delay in or misdirection of the food bolus may interfere with functional oral intake. The nature of dysphagia Aspiration occurs whenever food enters the airway below the true vocal folds. Aspiration can occur before, during, or after the swallow. Aspiration before the swallow As