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Dysphagia is a disorder of swallowing.  One of the most common dysphagia symptoms we see in the Ear, Nose and Throat department is the sensation of food sticking in the throat.   

You may find that the sensation of food ‘sticking’ can vary from day to day, or that it is present all the time. It is important to understand why this sensation is occurring to help manage these symptoms. 

Common causes of food sticking: 

Sometimes there can be a physical reason for the sensation of food sticking: 

• Oesophageal dysmotility is common in older adults. The muscles and/or nerves of the digestive tract stop working as efficiently as they used to. This means that food and liquid travels through the oesophagus (food pipe/gullet) more slowly.  

It is common to experience a ‘referred sensation’ where the location of food sticking is felt to be higher in the throat than the actual location of the hold up. 

• Cervical osteophytes occur when the bones of the spine move forward slightly and take up space within the throat. These can stop food passing through the throat easily. 
• Oesophageal stricture is a narrowing within the oesophagus (food pipe/gullet) which restricts what foods can pass easily through the oesophagus. You may have noticed you need to change your diet to softer, well-lubricated foods.  
• Cricopharyngeal dysfunction occurs when the muscle at the top of the oesophagus (food pipe/gullet) does not relax to allow food to enter the oesophagus causing a build-up of food in the throat.  You may have noticed more solid or tacky foods getting stuck and the need to take a drink to help wash foods away. 

There are also many other factors which can contribute to the sensation of food ‘sticking’ in the absence of a physical abnormality in the throat: 

• Cervical spondylitis (neck clicks and stiffness) are common, especially in middle age and beyond. These may change throat sensation and create a feeling of something there. 
• Stress and/or anxiety can cause muscle tension within the throat leading to a feeling of sticking or irritation. As tight muscles are often tender to the tough, they can also increase how sensitive the throat feels at rest and when swallowing. The stress/anxiety may be due to one ‘big’ life event or the build-up of day to day ‘hassles’. 
• Hypersensitivity is awareness of movements or sensations we would not normally notice. When we give the mind too much control over automatic movements we do not normally think about, e.g. swallowing, we can begin to notice normal sensations and movements that previously we would have ignored, e.g. saliva.   

Heightened awareness of throat movements and sensations can occur after infection or injury to the throat or airways. 

The ENT speech and language therapy team provides care for these symptoms. 

Assessment of ENT swallowing disorders: 

During assessment, we will ask you for information about your medical history and the swallowing difficulties you have been experiencing. Assessment may include:    

• Oro-motor assessment: observing how the nerves and muscles of your mouth and throat are working  
• Clinical swallow assessment: observations of you swallowing different food and fluid textures  
• Videofluoroscopy: x-ray of swallowing
• Fibreoptic Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing (FEES): nasendoscopy involving swallow trials.

If you have special dietary requirement or if you are struggling with a particular type of food, it can be helpful to bring food to your assessment to ensure a more comprehensive investigation. 

We aim to help you achieve the best possible function in order for you to participate in daily activities to the best of your ability. Treatments may involve some or all of the following:  

• Education and advice to help you better understand the changes you are experiencing.   
• Direct exercises and techniques to improve your function.  
• Advice regarding appropriate food and fluid textures   
• Advice regarding strategies to better manage the changes you are experiencing  
• Psychological and emotional support  
• Liaison with other health professionals   

Contact 

Contact telephone number: 0191 2137635 (Option 3)