Compass is still being developed and is effectively in beta. Some content and features may be incomplete, change, or not work as expected.

Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.

Feedback helps us identify gaps, errors, usability problems and opportunities to improve Compass over time.

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Eating and nutrition

Aspiration

Food, drink or saliva going into the airway instead of the food pipe.

What it means

Everybody does it occasionally and coughs it straight back. It matters more when swallowing is weaker, because it happens more often, and when coughing is weaker, because clearing it takes longer. It does not always cause coughing, which is why it is sometimes tested for.

Why you might hear it

  • It is the risk a swallowing assessment is looking for.
  • It explains why posture and food texture are discussed.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.