Dysphagia

Dysphagia care at Mayo Clinic

Your Mayo Clinic care team

Specialists at Mayo Clinic work together to identify the appropriate treatment approach for each person. The care team includes doctors who specialize in gastroenterology and hepatology, otolaryngology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and speech pathology.

If you have esophageal cancer, specialists in thoracic surgery, oncology (medical), and radiation oncology also might be involved in your treatment. Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota has a special dysphagia clinic, the Esophageal Clinic, to coordinate care of children and adults who have dysphagia.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment

Mayo Clinic offers high-tech testing options to identify the cause of your dysphagia. The results from most tests are typically available within a few hours.

Mayo Clinic is a leader in treatments such as esophageal dilation for narrowing (strictures) and stent placement for blockages. Mayo Clinic also offers surgery when necessary, including the latest minimally invasive techniques such as the laparoscopic Heller myotomy and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia. Mayo Clinic serves as a test center for evaluating new technologies.

Mayo Clinic recently implemented the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative, a global standardization for defining diets for people with dysphagia. Known around the world as IDDSI, this framework aligns Mayo Clinic with international standards for safety and offers the highest level of individualized care to people with dysphagia.

Expertise and rankings

Experience

Each year, Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose and treat more than 16,000 people who have difficulty swallowing.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023–2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for ear, nose and throat by U.S. News & World Report.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:

Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.