Evaluation of swallowing disorders in multiple sclerosis.

Swallowing disorders are present in more than one-third of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Dysphagia in MS usually receives limited attention, maybe because of the unpredictability and variability of the disease among patients. Complications of dysphagia such as dehydration and aspiration pneumonia are a common cause of death and morbidity in late MS. For the effectiveness of swallowing rehabilitation in MS-related dysphagia we suggest that all MS patients should have a thorough evaluation of swallow ability.