Hong Kong study sheds light on an issue that’s hard to swallow
Elderly minders urged to take care as new research finds many senior citizens with visual impairments risk choking or worse
Many visually impaired elderly have difficulties swallowing their food, with the majority of them being unaware of the problem, according to a study.
At least 61 per cent of 398 elderly with severe low vision reported to have trouble swallowing, research conducted by the University of Hong Kong’s Swallowing Research Laboratory found.
Study participants with the issue showed symptoms such as feeling discomfort in the throat during and after mealtimes, coughing, and swallowing food into their windpipe.
Dr. Karen Chan Man-kei, a speech therapist, said the condition is brought on by ageing, when peoples’ throat muscles begin to weaken, or they lose control over the coordination of various muscles.
The research team, who visited four nursing homes of the Hong Kong Society for the Blind, conducted face-to-face clinical assessments with 109 residents over the age of 65 between December last year and June.
Around 60 per cent showed signs of swallowing difficulties after a simple water drinking test. As many as 90 per cent of those with the difficulty were not aware they had the problem.