I have dysphagia, I mentioned it to my therapist when I first noticed it and they got me a referral to a speech pathologist who really helped. I had weekly speech exercises and the dysphagia is for the most part gone. When it does occur I do not panic and know I just calm myself down and swallow. Good luck,

Dysphagia simply means difficulty swallowing. With Parkinson’s, the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing can become slower or less coordinated. You might cough or clear your throat while eating, feel like food or pills are getting stuck, take much longer to finish a meal, or notice your voice sounds wet or gurgly afterward. Sometimes swallowing trouble can be present without much coughing, so it should not be ignored.

I would start by telling your neurologist or regular doctor and asking for a referral to a speech-language pathologist. They do much more than speech—they are also the specialists who evaluate and treat swallowing problems. They may recommend a modified barium swallow study, which is a moving X-ray, or a FEES examination using a small camera. These tests show exactly where the trouble is happening.

Depending on what they find, the speech-language pathologist may teach swallowing exercises, safer ways to eat and drink, and recommend which food or liquid textures are best for you. Don’t start thickening liquids or using special swallowing positions on your own because the right advice is different for each person.

Until you are evaluated, take your time, sit upright, avoid talking with food in your mouth, take manageable bites and sips, and make sure you chew your food thoroughly. Digestion starts in the mouth, so good chewing is important.

The main thing is to get checked early by your doctor. Swallowing problems are often easier to manage once you know exactly what is going on, so check with your doctor sooner rather than later.