Parkinson's: Managing Swallowing Disorders 

Parkinson’s disease may cause several oral motor problems, including difficulty with chewing, swallowing, and saliva control. Swallowing disorders (medically referred to as “dysphagia”) in Parkinson’s can slow down the speed of drinking and eating. Fatigue while eating, as well as difficulty swallowing medications, can also be experienced in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s and atypical Parkinsonism. If left untreated, dysphagia can cause choking on food or liquids that can lead to life-threatening aspiration-induced pneumonia. Speech-language pathologists can help those with Parkinson’s and their families improve the safety and efficiency of the swallowing mechanism.