Oropharyngeal dysphagia – that is, difficulty swallowing – is a barely recognized and diagnosed problem, often underappreciated by the very patient, but that can have potentially devastating consequences. The Otorhinolaryngology Consultation - Swallowing , available at Hospital da Luz Clínica de Odivelas, evaluates people with suspicion of dysphagia. More common among the elderly and babies, dysphagia can be occasional or, on the contrary, manifested in a persistent way and even aggravating, thus requiring urgent evaluation by an otorhinolaryngologist. Only then will this pathology be diagnosed early on, so that the most adequate treatment may be initiated and safe and efficient nourishment may be re-established. Dysphagia can have multiple causes , but it is most prevalent in cases of: Oncologic disease; Post-CVA conditions; Cranioencephalic trauma; Degenerative diseases; Laryngeal paralysis. If not treated, oropharyngeal dysphagia may lead to malnutrition, weight loss, aspiration pneumonia and, eventually, death. Therefore, an effort should be made towards the diagnosis and treatment by a specialized multidisciplinary team, also pursuing the objective of raising the awareness of the remaining professionals involved. At Hospital da Luz Clínica de Odivelas, the otorhinolaryngologist dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia is Maria Pimenta Machado , specialist working in collaboration with audiologists and the speech therapist Sandra Hespanhol . Schedule your appointment through our usual channels: MY LUZ , by phone 217 104 540 or at www.hospitaldaluz.pt/odivelas
