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

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Eating and nutrition

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing, which can make eating slower, more tiring or less safe.

What it means

Swallowing uses many small muscles in a fast, precise sequence. When they weaken, food and drink can take longer to go down, catch, or go the wrong way. Some textures become harder than others, and thin liquids are often the first to cause trouble.

Why you might hear it

  • It is the word used for a referral to a speech pathologist.
  • It comes up whenever swallowing assessments 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.