Swallowing Difficulties
Relief and answers when eating, drinking, or speaking becomes a challenge.
If you feel like food gets stuck when you swallow, experience frequent coughing or choking, or have pain when eating, you may be dealing with a swallowing disorder — also known as dysphagia. It’s more than just an inconvenience. Over time, it can lead to weight loss, nutritional issues, or even serious complications like aspiration pneumonia.
At Head & Neck Surgery of Kansas City, our board-certified physicians work closely with speech and swallowing specialists to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of swallowing problems. Whether your symptoms are mild or life-disrupting, we’ll help you get the support and answers you need.
If swallowing feels difficult, painful, or risky, schedule an appointment today. We’re here to help you feel more comfortable and confident.
Common Symptoms
Swallowing disorders can develop gradually or suddenly. You may experience:
- Difficulty starting a swallow or moving food from your mouth to your throat
- The feeling of food getting “stuck” in your throat or chest
- Coughing or choking when eating or drinking
- Pain or discomfort when swallowing
- Frequent throat clearing or a sensation of a lump in the throat
- Unexplained weight loss or avoiding meals
- Wet-sounding voice or throat after eating or drinking
- Regurgitation of food or liquids after swallowing
How We Diagnose
Understanding what’s causing your swallowing difficulty is key to effective treatment. We may recommend:
- Laryngoscopy to view the throat and vocal cords
- Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) to observe how food moves through your throat
- Modified barium swallow study (MBSS) — an X-ray taken while you eat and drink, looking at your throat
- Barium esophagram — an X-ray that tracks how food and liquid move through your esophagus
- Esophageal evaluation or referral if the issue appears lower in the digestive tract
- Speech-language pathologist assessment (available in some locations) for functional or coordination concerns
We’ll explain what we see and help you understand the next steps.
Treatment Options
Your treatment will depend on the cause and severity of your symptoms. We may recommend:
- Swallowing therapy with a speech-language pathologist to improve safety and coordination
- Dietary modifications to make swallowing easier and safer
- Medications for acid reflux, inflammation, or infection
- Exercises to strengthen swallowing muscles
- Dilation procedures to open narrowed areas of the throat or esophagus
- Surgery for structural issues such as diverticula, tumors, or vocal fold paralysis
- Ongoing support and monitoring for progressive conditions or recovery after surgery or illness
We’ll build a treatment plan that meets your needs and goals — with both safety and comfort in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Swallowing difficulties can be caused by acid reflux, nerve damage, aging, injury, stroke, or structural changes. We’ll help identify the root cause.
They can be. Swallowing problems increase the risk of choking or inhaling food or liquids into the lungs. That’s why evaluation is so important.
Most people don’t — especially when treatment begins early. We’ll explore all options before considering more advanced interventions.
No — while age-related changes are common, swallowing disorders can affect people of any age due to injury, illness, or neurological conditions.
Yes — many people see significant improvement with the right therapy, especially when paired with medical or surgical care if needed.
Eat, Speak, and Swallow With Confidence
If swallowing is uncomfortable or unpredictable, our board-certified ENTs (otolaryngologists) can help. Schedule an appointment today to get clear answers and compassionate care.