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Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, affects approximately 15 million Americans, and one in 17 people will develop some form of dysphagia in his or her lifetime. Individuals affected by stroke, head and neck cancer, degenerative neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, and respiratory conditions may receive a diagnosis of dysphagia.
If not properly managed, patients with dysphagia may experience coughing or choking when eating or drinking, difficulty managing a normal diet or completing a meal, recurring chest infections, dehydration, and malnutrition. Patients with severe dysphagia often rely on alternative methods to obtain nourishment, such as feeding tubes, which significantly affects quality of life.
McLaren Central Michigan Rehabilitation Services offers two specialized procedures that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia in adults and children - VitalStim® Therapy and Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS). McLaren Central Michigan is the only outpatient VitalStim provider in Isabella County.
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