Yesterday was World Voice Day (16/04/2026). So, I thought I would share something that hasn’t been talked about enough in our community – Dysphagia.
Firstly, this isn’t medical advice; this is my experience, I am sharing in the hopes of helping others…
Dysphagia isn’t fun. It’s uncomfortable, sometimes frightening, and honestly… weird. I have seen gastro folk, had scans, barium swallow tests and years of investigation. But after finally being diagnosed by the SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) team, working with so many symptomatic hypermobile people in my practice, I realised how many people might be experiencing this without knowing what it is – or why it’s happening.
So I’m sharing in the hope that it might help some bendy folks out there 💜
What Does Dysphagia Look Like for Me?
When people think of dysphagia, they usually think of difficulty swallowing food.
But for me, and this surprised me, it’s mostly drinks.
Especially:
Water
Thin liquids such as thin gravies
Even my own saliva!
And it’s much worse later in the day as you become more tired.
If you’ve ever found yourself:
Coughing when drinking
Choking/aspirating on “nothing”
Or randomly inhaling your own saliva (yep 🤣)
…this might be something worth looking into.
Why Isn’t This Talked About More in EDS?
When I spoke with the SALT team, they said that they mostly see folks who have food-choking problems. Not folk like us. Also, there is a difference I wasn’t aware of too which is that choking is for food, and aspirating is for liquids mostly. Choking, you can’t get air through, with liquids you can, so it is aspirating. I didn’t know this, so I would ask for help with my ‘choking’, so I was investigated for such, and it turns out I ‘aspirate’ on liquids. From the bouncing around the different departments I had, this misunderstanding of choking vs aspirating, I am not surprised it wasn’t diagnosed earlier.
For me, and my SALT lady, dysphagia seems to be linked to:
Fatigue
Brain–body communication
Connective tissue differences
Which makes complete sense… and also makes it wild that it isn’t better known.
If your muscles are tired, coordination drops. If signals between the brain and body are slower or fuzzier, timing goes off. Add stretchy connective tissue into the mix and suddenly swallowing – something we do automatically – becomes less reliable.
The Fatigue Connection
One of the biggest clues for me was when it happened.
Earlier in the day? Usually fine.
Later on, when I’m tired, flaring, or cognitively overloaded? Much worse.
If I aspirate earlier in the day, I am probably heading into a fatigue flare, a very handy sign!
So if you notice:
More coughing/aspirating with food and drink as the day goes on
Choking or aspirating when you’re exhausted
Or symptoms flaring during fatigue flare‑ups
…that pattern is important.
Weird (but Helpful) Things I’ve Learned
Here’s where things get interesting – and surprisingly useful.
- Stronger flavours help
The stronger the taste, the less likely I am to aspirate. Apparently, this is because it sends a stronger signal to the brain that I’m swallowing something, so my body works better.
- Thicker liquids are easier
Thin liquids like water are harder for me. Thicker drinks are easier to control and coordinate. Because of this, I’ve been prescribed a drink thickener for when I need it – especially during fatigue flare‑ups.
- Straws help, rather than drinking from a glass.
- Yes… aspirating on yourself is also a thing
If this has happened to you, you’re not broken – and you’re definitely not alone 🤣
A Surprising Lesson About ‘Easy’ Foods
For quite a while, I was using shakes for breakfast, thinking I was helping myself. From an ADHD perspective it was, as I didn’t have to think about what to make, I just made a tasty shake! However, it turns out I may have been making my dysphagia worse.
Here’s why:
- Soft foods and thick drinks require less muscle work.
- With EDS, we decondition fast
- If we don’t use those muscles enough, they can weaken
The SALT team explained that solid food can act like physio for your swallowing muscles – as long as it’s safe for you to do so.
I’ve now switched back to solid food for breakfast, and slowly, things do seem to be improving. I still use thickener when I need it, but I no longer default to soft foods ‘just in case.’
(Of course – if solid food isn’t safe for you, this won’t apply. Always follow your medical professional’s guidance.)
Helping hints for improving Dysphagia
Posture: The Sneaky Culprit 🙄
Posture matters more than I ever realised.
Many of us with EDS have naturally poor posture: We sit rounded, with our shoulders forward, let our chin poke forward, and eat curled over. That posture alone can increase choking risk.
I was given some really helpful handouts about:
Sitting upright/ good posture
Chin tucked in slightly
Supporting the neck and shoulders
It feels awkward at first – but it genuinely helps.
Why I’m Sharing This
Dysphagia isn’t talked about enough in the EDS world. But if you’re coughing, choking, aspirating, or struggling more when you’re tired, it’s worth paying attention to.
You’re not imagining it.
You’re not being dramatic.
And you’re definitely not alone.
If this post helps even one person realise what’s going on – and feel less scared or confused – then it’s been worth sharing 💜
Kim Clayden
Solution Focused Psychotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist
& Muss Rewind Practitioner.
HPD, DSFH, MNCH (Reg), CNHC (Reg), AfSFH (Reg)