About: Presbyphagia

Presbyphagia refers to characteristic changes in the swallowing mechanism of otherwise healthy older adults. Although age-related changes place older adults at risk swallowing disorders, an older adult's swallow is not necessarily an impaired swallow. Clinicians are becoming more aware of the need to distinguish among swallowing disorders, presbyphagia (an old yet healthy swallow) and other related diagnoses in order to avoid over diagnosing and over treating presbyphagia. Older adults are more vulnerable and with the increased threat of acute illnesses, medications and any number of age-related conditions, they can cross the line from having a healthy older swallow to being dysphagic.