“Dysphagia” simply means difficulty swallowing—but where the problem occurs matters because it changes the risks, the workup, and the best next steps. A helpful way to understand dysphagia is to match symptoms to the phase of swallowing: NIDCD describes swallowing as a staged process, including the pharyngeal phase where the larynx closes and breathing stops … Continue reading Dysphagia Explained: Oral vs. Pharyngeal vs. Esophageal