Dysphagia Evaluation and Treatment
We support individuals experiencing swallowing challenges due to neurological conditions, medical illness, surgery, trauma, or aging.
Swallowing Services at Flower City Speech Connections
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty with swallowing. It affects nutrition, safety, comfort, and the enjoyment of everyday life. At Flower City Speech Connections, we provide evidence-based dysphagia treatment, advanced assessment tools, and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) to diagnose swallowing disorders with precision.
Swallowing therapy strengthens the muscles involved in swallowing, improves timing and coordination, and reduces aspiration risk through safe, effective strategies. We also provide expert guidance on diet and texture modifications to make eating both safe and enjoyable.
Most importantly, we aim to help you reconnect with the foods and social experiences that matter most. With our dedicated care and evidence-based methods, you can trust us to support your journey toward safe and confident swallowing.
What Is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, happens when food or liquid cannot move safely and efficiently from the mouth to the stomach. It may cause coughing or choking during meals, the feeling of food “sticking,” trouble chewing or coordinating a swallow, weight loss, or even recurrent pneumonia. Some people begin to avoid certain foods or textures altogether.Â
Dysphagia can develop for many reasons, such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, MS, dementia, head and neck cancer, surgical or age-related changes, reflux, or prolonged intubation. With early evaluation and targeted therapy, you may regain safer, more comfortable swallowing. This helps you to eat and drink with greater ease and confidence once again.
Eating and Quality of Life
When swallowing becomes difficult, it can affect every aspect of well-being, including physical health, emotional balance, and social connection. Difficulty eating can lead to fatigue, weakness, and a loss of confidence, often causing people to withdraw from social gatherings that once brought them joy.
We understand how deeply this can impact your quality of life, which is why our therapy focuses on restoring both safety and enjoyment at mealtimes. By addressing the physical challenges of swallowing, we aim to help you regain comfort, confidence, and a renewed sense of connection around the table.
FEES Exam for Dysphagia
At Flower City Speech Connections, we’re committed to providing the most accurate and effective evaluation available. That’s why we offer FEES (fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) from the comfort of our clinic, no hospital visit required. This examination uses a small, flexible scope inserted gently through the nose to view your throat and voice box in real time as you eat and drink.
FEES allows us to assess airway protection, detect aspiration, evaluate pharyngeal strength, and observe how your body responds to different strategies and textures. Because it’s safe, non-radiographic, and can be performed with real foods, FEES provides the detailed information we need to create a precise, personalized treatment plan. With this level of insight, we can help you swallow more safely and confidently while monitoring your progress every step of the way.
Schedule a FEES Exam or Dysphagia Evaluation
Flower City Speech Connections expands your access to skilled, compassionate experts who specialize in treating individuals with neurological speech and swallowing challenges. This ensures that you receive continuity, expertise, and personalized therapy every step of your dysphagia treatment journey.