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919-684-3859Duke specialists use the latest diagnostic and treatment advances to treat people who have difficulty swallowing, a condition known as dysphagia.
Swallowing disorders can make it difficult for you to eat and drink. Symptoms of dysphagia include:
Swallowing problems can lead to:
Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.
Evaluations of oropharyngeal dysphagia are performed by speech-language pathologists. Your provider will decide which test is best to assess your oropharyngeal swallow function.
During this assessment, we will discuss your medical history as it relates to dysphagia, ask questions about your symptoms, and observe you swallowing various foods and liquids to look for signs of swallowing difficulty.
A flexible endoscope (a small camera with a light) is passed through your nose. You will swallow dyed foods and liquids while the camera is in place to observe whether any of the food and drink enters your airway.
A speech-language pathologist and a radiologist work together to perform a radiographic evaluation of your swallowing function. Moving X-ray images of the mouth, throat, and esophagus are taken while you try different swallowing positions and consistencies of barium.
Where you receive your care matters. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. That is why our ear, nose, and throat (ENT) program is nationally ranked among the nation's best, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026.
High-Level Evaluation and Treatment
All of our providers have advanced training in dysphagia. Our knowledgeable therapists offer the very best level of care.
Personalized Swallow Therapy
Our speech-language pathologists will teach you strategies and compensatory swallowing techniques personalized to your specific needs.
