[Neurogenic dysphagia].

Approximately half of neurological and geriatric inpatients suffer from oropharyngeal dysphagia. This often leads to pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration; however, the underlying dysphagia is frequently not diagnosed and treated. This is particularly the case for patients with so-called silent aspiration. Knowledge on the physiology of swallowing, including the central nervous system control of swallowing and the therapeutic options have achieved considerable progress in recent years. In particular, the increasing implementation of flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) has significantly contributed to this knowledge. It provides the ability to identify the individual pattern of oropharyngeal dysphagia leading to a suitable selection of therapeutic and compensatory strategies for individual patients. The various therapeutic options range from modification of the consistency of the diet, over diverse logopedic strategies and stimulation techniques up to interventional procedures.