Recognizing Difficulties with Eating, Drinking, & Swallowing
How are difficulties with eating, drinking, and swallowing recognized? Sometimes it is difficult and goes unnoticed for a while until we recognize that there may be an issue. When we spend a great deal of time with each other during mealtimes, it is easy to miss changes that may be important. Changes can happen slowly, and we fail to recognize them as significant. Here is a list of items that may help identify changes that can indicate potential changes/issues with eating, drinking, and swallowing.
- Frequent coughing, choking, or gagging during or after eating and/or drinking
- Food remaining in the mouth following swallowing/mealtime
- Difficulty chewing/swallowing foods
- Holding food or liquid in the mouth longer than usual
- Unexplained weight loss without a change in dietary texture
- Refusing meals/certain foods and textures previously enjoyed
- Not finishing meals due to fatigue or issues catching breath
- Excessive drooling and loss of food/drink from mouth
- Gurgling or wet sounding voice while or after eating/drinking
- Change in dentition (missing, removed or teeth in poor condition)
- Respiratory issues related to aspiration
- Inability to manage their own secretions
- Behaviors that occur during or after mealtimes (vomiting, spitting, belching, yelling, screaming, chest pounding, crying, etc.) which can occur several hours following meals
If any of these signs are observed, it is important that the team members communicate with each other. Discussing any observations/concerns to help determine the frequency and commonalities is key to establish a plan of care. Initiating these types of conversations help team members stay informed and help keep individuals safe.
