By Eric UfiPoa Taule’ale’ausumai
“It was a stroke that almost knocked me down, but it was dysphagia that became the dark cloud that stayed.” – Eric Ufipoa Taule’ale’ausumai
Many different conditions can cause swallowing difficulties, but the impact is the same. While my swallowing challenges came from a stroke at just 32 years old — dysphagia is dysphagia. Regardless of the cause, we’re all navigating the same tough reality.
Sharing food and drink with people has always meant a lot to me (I love food), but for a long time after my stroke, dysphagia took these simple joys from me. Every meal was a battle. I was scared to sleep on my back in case I drowned. Eating in public was out of the question. Now, after rehabilitating my swallowing, I bring my lived experiences to my role at SwalTech and help shape innovations that help others eat and drink again.
How Parkinson’s Affects Swallowing
When people think about Parkinson’s, they often think about tremors, movement difficulties, or changes to speech and voice. But Parkinson’s can also affect something we do every day without thinking. And that’s swallowing.
Swallowing relies on a complex group of muscles working together in a precisely coordinated sequence. Parkinson’s can affect the brain’s control of timing, coordination, and movement, making swallowing slower, less efficient, and less safe.
Because these changes often happen gradually, swallowing problems can be easy to miss. It becomes your “new normal” before you even notice it’s a problem. People can often subconsciously stop eating certain foods in their diet without knowing they have swallowing difficulties.
This is where your family and friends matter so much. They’re usually the ones who spot the early changes in your swallowing or how you might be adapting before you do.
Signs to Look Out For
Common symptoms of dysphagia in Parkinson’s include:
- Coughing or choking during meals
- Food feeling stuck in your throat
- Taking longer to eat
- Avoiding certain foods or textures
- Difficulty swallowing tablets
- A wet or gurgly voice after eating or drinking
- Unexplained weight loss
- Frequent chest infections
If these symptoms sound familiar to you or those around you, it’s worth speaking to a healthcare professional. One of your options may be seeing a swallowing specialist – a Speech and Language Pathologist. Despite the name, they don’t just work with speech and language!
Can Dysphagia Be Treated?
Yes. One of the biggest things I learned in my own journey is that swallowing problems aren’t something you just have to accept.
While Parkinson’s is progressive, there are evidence-based approaches that can help manage and rehabilitate swallowing difficulties.
If you work with a Speech and Language Pathologist, treatment may include:
- Swallowing exercises
- Skill-based swallowing rehabilitation
- Changes to eating and drinking strategies
Why Early Action Matters
A lot of people don’t reach out for help until their swallowing gets really bad. I get it — you adapt, make do, push through. But dysphagia isn’t harmless. It can lead to things like dehydration, malnutrition, and even aspiration pneumonia — that’s when food or drink slips into your lungs and causes a serious chest infection.
For people living with Parkinson’s, spotting swallowing changes early can make a real difference. It can help you hold onto your swallowing function, your independence, and your quality of life for longer. The earlier you catch it, the more you can do about it.
For me, finally putting a name to what was happening with my swallowing was actually reassuring. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can stop blaming yourself and start doing something about it.
How BiSSkApp Can Help
One of the hardest parts of swallowing rehab is knowing if you’re doing the exercises right. You can’t see your swallow! And getting enough practice is tough too. Not everyone can pop into a clinic three times a week, especially when life, distance, or fatigue get in the way. Part of my role is working on a product called BiSSkApp, which uses biofeedback to turn invisible muscle activity into visible information on an iPad, so people can stop hoping for
improvement and actually retrain their swallow. It gives you guided, gamified exercises that target the muscles and parts of the brain that control swallowing. It works wherever you are — in hospital, in a clinic, or at home — with your clinician able to support you and keep an eye on your progress remotely.
For people living with Parkinson’s, BiSSkApp offers a way to be involved in your swallowing rehab — not just be told what to do. It helps you understand what your swallowing is doing, build confidence, and feel more in control of something that can otherwise feel pretty scary. If you’d like to learn more, you can watch this video of BiSSkApp user Lorraine, who is living with Parkinson’s.
The Takeaway
Dysphagia is common in Parkinson’s, but it often slips under the radar until things get serious. I’ve lived through what it feels like when swallowing becomes the dark cloud hanging over everyday life. My dysphagia came from stroke, but the lesson is the same for all of us, don’t wait until it becomes a crisis.
Pay attention to the signs. Listen to the people around you. Get checked early. Ask about rehab options.
Swallowing problems might be common — but that doesn’t mean you just have to put up with it.
