Help for Patients with Swallowing Problems and Voice Issues
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal cancer, and neck and esophageal surgeries can cause difficulty swallowing. Sometimes reflux also changes a person’s voice. To diagnose swallowing problems and help patients better manage these symptoms, the AdventHealth Digestive Institute has a Voice and Swallowing Center.
While the ability to swallow may seem effortless, it is a very complex process. Roughly 50 pairs of muscles and many nerves work to move food from the mouth to the stomach. Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia, can affect your ability to eat, drink or take medicine. Dysphagia can also put you at risk for serious health consequences.
Symptoms of a swallowing disorder can include:
A feeling that food is getting stuck in the throat
Pain or discomfort while eating or drinking
Coughing during eating or immediately afterward
Having a wet or gurgly voice
Work Closely with an Expert Speech-Language Pathologist
The Voice and Swallowing Center is led by a speech-language pathologist, a trained professional who helps patients regain function of their mouths and throats. In evaluating patients, Cory O'Brien, AdventHealth Digestive Institute's speech-language pathologist observes how their muscles work when they swallow. She often performs special tests to see inside their throats and works closely with gastroenterologists to create care plans if dysphagia is caused by underlying issues with the digestive tract. Cory also helps patients relearn how to swallow and speak as well as possible.
Treatments provided at the Voice and Swallowing Center include:
Teaching patients how to perform specialized exercises that improve muscle movement
Helping patients discover eating and drinking positions and strategies that make swallowing easier
Finding out with patients which specific food and liquid textures are easier for them to swallow
Many times, working with a speech-language pathologist can fully restore patients’ abilities to eat and drink so they can enjoy food as much as they did before their injuries or conditions.
Mickle Center for Reflux and Esophageal Disorders
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Esophageal Cancer
Typically esophageal cancer requires surgery in addition to radiation and chemotherapy. Learn more about the surgical treatments our specialists can provide.
The experienced surgeons at AdventHealth Digestive Institute offer effective and permanent treatment for achalasia. Learn more about these treatment options.
AdventHealth Digestive Institute is a regional top provider of care for acid reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux.
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Surgical Consultations For Digestive Cancer Without The Wait
Appointments Within Five Days for Patients with Cancer
At AdventHealth Digestive Institute, we know that after being diagnosed with cancer, patients want and often need to begin treatment quickly. So we make it a priority to offer appointments for cancer surgery consultations within five business days, and often earlier.
Patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer, or have just found out they have cancer again, qualify for this priority access. Our surgeons will make themselves available to see you right away, even for a second opinion. We want to help you start your treatment as soon as possible.
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