Functional Dysphagia Assessment

Functional dysphagia assessment involves evaluating how well a person can swallow without any obvious physical or structural problems in the throat or esophagus. It includes reviewing medical history, performing physical exams, and sometimes using specialized tests to observe swallowing function. These assessments help identify issues related to nerve or muscle coordination in the swallowing process. The goal is to determine if symptoms are due to functional causes—meaning the problem exists even when structural and medical tests are normal—so appropriate management can be planned.