Swallowing disorders: assessment and rehabilitation.

Advances over the last 15 years in the assessment and management of disorders of the upper swallowing tract, well publicized and applied in North America, appear to have received scant attention elsewhere. A coordinated, expert, interdisciplinary approach is most relevant to the rehabilitation of patients with swallowing disorders. Expert follow-up is important whenever totally safe swallowing is not achieved by the time of discharge from hospital.