Patient was educated regarding thickening foods for difficulty with oropharyngeal phase of swallowing as follows:
- Oropharyngeal dysphagia usually presents as a difficulty swallowing liquid than swallowing solids.
- This condition presents with pocketing of foods in the mouth between the cheeks and teeth, drooling, inability to suck through a straw, intense choking with episodes of coughing and shortness of breath, and recurrent episodes of pneumonia.
- Since these individuals have increased difficulty swallowing liquids, foods that are too thin are contraindicated for them.
- So, foods can be thickened before serving them, by the addition of following thickeners
- Mashed potatoes
- Custard mix
- Cooked baby cereal
- Gelatin powder
- Pureed vegetables and fruits
- Corn starch
- Foods that are thickened by addition of these thickeners can make it easy on the individual to swallow and aspiration less likely.
- Consult your doctor and speech pathologist for any other recommendations towards a safe swallow.