Swallowing Difficulty

Your symptoms or past history of neurologic problems could be related to your swallowing difficulty.

You need to schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss your swallowing difficulty. Your doctor will consider the possibility that your swallowing problem might come from a neurologic (brain or nerve) problem, among other possibilities.

Tests that might be recommended by your doctor include laryngoscopy (viewing of the larynx through your nose or mouth with a camera on a flexible, narrow rod), video swallowing study (this study uses an x-ray technique called fluoroscopy to videotape your swallowing while you consume samples of foods or drink containing a material that can show up on x-ray), esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or EGD (viewing of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum with a camera on a flexible, narrow cord), barium swallow (x-ray views of the esophagus after you swallow a liquid that shows up on x-ray), or antibody test (blood test) for the condition myasthenia gravis.