Final answer:
Silent aspiration occurs in 30-40% of patients with dysphagia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Silent aspiration occurs in 30-40% of patients with dysphagia.
When a person swallows, food and liquid pass through the throat and into the esophagus. However, in some cases, the swallowing process is disrupted, causing the material to go into the airway instead of the esophagus. This is known as aspiration.
Silent aspiration refers to when a person aspirates without showing obvious signs or symptoms, such as coughing or choking. It can be detected through tests, such as a videofluoroscopic swallowing study, where a person is given liquid or food mixed with barium to observe how it travels through the throat and into the esophagus.