Swallowing Therapy

Dysphagia is a medical condition in which swallowing is difficult, or even painful. This can impact one’s ability to eat and maintain a balanced diet. Dysphagia can occur at different points during the swallowing process, and may require patients to spend more time or effort to swallow.

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SFENTA can help patients by providing swallowing therapy. Our highly-trained providers can help patients manage swallowing difficulties at any stage by offering personalized treatment plans. This may include regimens of exercises, medications, or other forms of treatment to help make swallowing easier and safer.

About Swallowing Difficulties

Swallowing therapy is a service provided by SFENTA that is completely customized to your specific needs. One of the primary areas that providers will review before creating your regimen is the stage at which your swallowing difficulty occurs. There are three phases of swallowing:

Oral Phase

This stage includes the beginning swallowing motions, such as chewing or sucking liquids and solid food. It also includes moving the food from the mouth into the throat.

Pharyngeal Phase

This stage follows directly after the first, and includes the start of moving solids or liquids down the throat.

Esophageal Phase

This is the final phase in which food moves from the throat through the esophagus and into the stomach.

Once your provider determines the stage of swallowing you’re having difficulty with, they can devise a treatment plan which may include exercises to help re-position food, dietary changes, swallowing techniques, or medication.

Conditions Addressed Through Swallowing Therapy

Swallowing therapy can help patients with dysphagia or other types of swallowing difficulties. The treatment is designed to make swallowing safer and more manageable.

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Benefits of Swallowing Therapy

Having trouble swallowing can make eating and drinking difficult, as well as put you in danger. Swallowing difficulties can increase your risk for choking and make it challenging to get enough food or nutrients. Swallowing therapy with SFENTA can help patients improve their ability to swallow and find safer practices.

About SFENTA

With over 30 locations across South Florida, SFENTA is the premier provider of ENT care to patients throughout Miami and beyond. Our staff pride themselves on care tailored to the patient, customized to meet their unique needs.

At SFENTA, our goal is to provide each patient with:

Patient-Centered Care

Our providers understand the importance of feeling heard by your medical provider. That’s why they take the time to listen to your needs and create a personalized plan for you.

Continuity of Care

Our physicians believe in finding long-term care solutions that address each of the symptoms impacting your life.

A Network of Highly Trained Physicians

We’ve built a provider network staffed with over 50 board-certified physicians and a network of allied professionals. This ensures that SFENTA can address any ENT need.

The Security of a Community Staple

At SFENTA, we’re trying to make ENT care more accessible and convenient for patients across Florida.

Who is a Candidate for Swallowing Therapy?

Patients who have been diagnosed with dysphagia or who have difficulty swallowing are candidates for swallowing therapy. Some patients may also have recently developed difficulty swallowing common foods or liquids due to another condition, which may include cancer in the mouth, throat, or esophagus; neurological conditions, or specific injuries to the head or neck. A SFENTA provider can help determine if you are a candidate for swallowing therapy.

Your Treatment Program

The exact steps of your treatment will be determined by one of our providers. At SFENTA, swallowing therapy is completely customized to the patient. During your initial appointment, your provider will review your symptoms to help determine what stage of swallowing you’re having trouble with and if this is the result of another underlying condition. Our providers will then create a treatment regimen to help you swallow or make swallowing more manageable. The treatment may include a combination of therapies, but will often include exercises to strengthen the mouth, tongue, or jaw. Patients will often require several treatment sessions to see improvement.

FAQ

Does SFENTA provide treatment for those unable to swallow?

Yes. We can help patients with varying degrees of swallowing difficulties, including those unable to swallow at all.

What will my treatment include?

Your individual treatment will be personalized to your specific condition and difficulties. Contact SFENTA for an evaluation with one of our providers.