Swallowing Problems

Treatment of Aspiration

When liquid or solid material passes below the vocal cords into the windpipe (trachea), aspiration occurs. This occasionally happens to everyone and results in coughing, which clears the material from the airway.

In some people with swallowing disorders in the throat, aspiration occurs frequently and, even worse, the material may not be coughed back into the throat. This can lead to severe respiratory infections such a pneumonia or bronchitis.

A videofluoroscopy performed by a speech pathologist is the best test to determine what is aspirated (amount of solid or liquid), when the aspiration occurs (before, during or after the swallow), the response (coughing and clearing or not coughing) and the best treatment approach. The speech pathologist also uses the videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) to identify maneuvers or therapy that may prevent or decrease the aspiration.

If swallowing therapy does not successfully treat aspiration, surgical procedures may be used in some cases. When swallowing therapy and surgical therapy are not possible or are ineffective, the throat is bypassed by placing a feeding tube into the stomach.