Eating and drinking are basic human needs. We need food and water to survive.

But food is also how we connect. You grab coffee with a friend, celebrate with birthday cake, toast to a new job, and linger at the table long after dinner's done.

So much of life happens around food.

Now imagine every bite and every sip comes with a risk. That's life with dysphagia – and for millions of people, it's a daily reality.

June is Dysphagia Awareness Month. This month, let's raise awareness for a condition that's common, serious, and far too often missed. ♥️

👥 Who does dysphagia affect?

~40-60% of stroke survivors

More than 1 in 3 people with Parkinson's

Over half of people living with dementia

~45% of head and neck cancer patients

All ages: from newborn to end of life

🤔 Reconsider your recommendations

A lot of swallowing "rules" get posted on the wall or printed on generic handouts, but the evidence for applying them isn't always there. A few worth a second look:

❌ Thicker liquids are always safer.
✅ A 2023 systematic review found that thickened liquids are linked to dehydration, reduced intake, and lower quality of life – without clearly reducing pneumonia or death (O'Keeffe et al., 2023). They still help the right patient, but "thick = safe" is a myth.
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❌ People without teeth can't eat a regular-texture diet.
✅ Some people have strong gums and can actually bite into a raw apple! Don't assume what a person can eat based on their dentition. Ask and observe.
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❌ People with dysphagia shouldn't use straws.
✅ For some patients (e.g. post-glossectomy, limited mouth opening, positioning restrictions, and more) a straw can actually help with swallowing. It's always best to assess the impact of a straw under instrumental evaluation.

🏋️‍♂️ Dysphagia exercises = strength training

Like any muscle, the swallow gets stronger by being worked consistently.

Adherence to home exercise programs is consistently a weak link, but research shows that structured support and check-ins measurably improve how well patients stick with their exercises (Shinn et al., 2024).

To help provide this structure and accountability, you can use the Virtual Rehab Center to assign exercises like the Effortful Swallow, Mendelsohn maneuver, and Chin Tuck Against Resistance for unlimited practice at home (no prep for you & free for your patients!)

🍽️ Beyond the clinic

It's easy to reduce dysphagia to a safety problem: aspiration, pneumonia, risk.

But eating is one of the most human things we do. It's how we celebrate, connect, and feel like ourselves.

When that's taken away, the cost is enormous. In a landmark study, only 45% of people with dysphagia still found eating enjoyable, and over 1/3 avoided eating with other people (Ekberg et al., 2002).

Here's a small assignment this month: the next time you sit down to a meal or take a sip of your coffee, notice how little you have to think about it.

And then think about the people for whom every single swallow is a deliberate act.

Cheers,
​-Megan

P.S. I highly recommend checking out our free dysphagia research summaries on the clinical assessment & evidence-based treatments. And if you need therapy recommendations in your pocket, there's an app for that. 📲