Anaheim Memorial Medical Center The Dysphagia Center

Eating, drinking and swallowing are activities most people take for granted. For the individual with dysphagia the inability to swallow safely can become life threatening. Dysphagia, defined as difficulty swallowing, is common, especially among seniors. Approximately seven to ten percent of adults over 50 years of age have been diagnosed with dysphagia, although this number may be artificially low because many patients with this problem may never seek medical care. Up to 25 percent of hospitalized patients and 30 to 40 percent of patients in nursing homes experience swallowing problems. Dysphagia also impacts the pediatric population, including premature infants born with immature suck-swallow-breath patterns.

The Dysphagia Center at Anaheim Memorial Medial Center offers an interdisciplinary team of dedicated health care specialists experienced in meeting the unique needs, while providing the appropriate continuum of care, for the patient with dysphagia. Our specialized team consists of the referring physician, radiologists, otolaryngologists, pediatricians, neonatologists, gastrologists, pulmonologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, dieticians, radiology technicians, and nurses. The recently purchased Siemens Fluoroscopy unit with digital capabilities offers the best quality images available on the market today. This state-of-the-art unit is housed in the imaging services department, room 4.

For more information on the Dysphagia Center, please call 714-999-5120.