5. Dysphagia & Nutritional Interventions for Patients with Acquired Brain Injuries

Dysphagia is defined as difficulty or discomfort with swallowing. Morgan and Ward (2001) have noted that traumatic brain injury associated with focal and diffuse cortical and brainstem damage, may impair swallowing ability and lead to the development of dysphagia and aspiration. Swallowing has four sequential coordinated phases which are summarized in Table 5.1.