A large range of factors can affect your ability to swallow safely and efficiently, including the following:
- Surgeries to the head, neck, and spine
- Head and Neck Cancers
- Radiation Therapy
- Vocal Fold Paralysis
- Trauma to the head and neck
- Neurological conditions such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple sclerosis (MS), Myasthenia Gravis, and Parkinson’s disease
- Autoimmune disorders, such as myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma
- Aging
- Muscle tension