At Cleveland Feeding and Swallowing Center, we understand the physical, emotional, and social hardships you experience with swallowing disorders – also known as dysphagia. We are here to help make eating enjoyable again and to bring you back to the family dinner table.
For most of us, swallowing is a natural reflex – something we don’t even think about during mealtime and throughout the course of the day. But swallowing is actually a complex process requiring 26 muscles and six cranial nerves to work together seamlessly to move food and liquid through the body.
Difficulty swallowing can be frustrating, scary, and dangerous. You should be evaluated for dysphagia right away if you experience the following symptoms:
Dysphagia can be caused by stroke, brain injury, trauma from surgery, throat cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, muscle disorders, and neurological disorders – among other things.
Sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat
Starting the swallow, squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering (aspiration) or to prevent choking
Relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the esophagus and squeezing food through the esophagus into the stomach
When dysphagia is suspected, our speech pathologists work quickly to use the most current diagnostic techniques in order to start you on a treatment plan as soon as possible. Early detection and aggressive treatment are both important factors in successfully managing dysphagia and its symptoms long term.
We use the following methods to help determine which stage of the swallowing process dysphagia is occurring, and how to best treat it:
Our multidisciplinary treatment for swallowing disorders includes traditional rehabilitation therapy, which we combine with leading-edge Vitalstim Therapy. We are one of centers currently offering this state-of-the-art method for effectively correcting swallowing disorders.
We have helped treat over 500 patients with Vitalstim Therapy – and we can help you, too.
Vitalstim Therapy is a painless, non-invasive treatment using an electrical current to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. With a 97% published success rate, Vitalstim is the only FDA-cleared device for treating dysphagia. When combined with rehabilitation therapy, Vitalstim can help you or your loved one restore swallowing function and bring enjoyment back to mealtime.
In addition to treatment for swallowing disorders, we offer several other customized therapy services to improve your quality of life.
Voice disorders can leave you feeling frustrated and anxious. At CFSC, our speech pathologists help restore one of the most important parts of yourself – your voice.
We take a personalized approach to addressing the unique complexities of feeding disorders, ensuring you or your loved one receives the proper nutrients for growth.
Looking to fine tune the fine motor skills you need to get around the house or workplace? At CFSC, our occupational therapists can help you with your daily living.
At Cleveland Feeding And Swallowing Center, we understand that speech and language difficulties can not only be frustrating for you, but for your loved ones as well. Our speech therapists will help you communicate confidently again.
At Cleveland Feeding and Swallowing Center, we take the time to create a personal plan customized to meet your needs and abilities – and accomplish your goals. We are personally committed to getting you back to the dinner table and making meals the enjoyable experience they are meant to be for your entire family.