The Role of Chemosenses in Swallowing Disorders Across the Lifespan

Introduction The act of swallowing saliva or food/liquid is a complex motor-sensory event that occurs for most people without any thought or concern. However, for individuals who are born with or acquire dysphagia (swallowing impairment), swallowing can be frightening, painful, difficult, and/or life-threatening. Methods While it is well known that the physical and chemical composition of food and liquids can alter its acceptance and consumption, the role that these properties play in dysphagia is just beginning to be studied. Results Taste, smell, and oral touch are integral sensory systems of deglutition. These inputs are crucial for infants/children who are learning to safely chew and swallow increasingly more complex food textures. These sensory inputs are equally important for adults who may have acquired sensorimotor impairments due to trauma, cancer, or neurologic disease. This article describes how swallowing physiology and anatomy change from infancy to adulthood and how the attributes of food and liquids influence swallowing safety. Conclusions The manipulation of the taste/smell and physical properties of food and liquids in the treatment of dysphagia is an intriguing area of new research currently underway.