Swallowing Therapy in Denver and Arvada
Dysphagia treatment for adults
If swallowing has become something you think about instead of something you just do, that is worth taking seriously. Difficulty swallowing has a clinical name, dysphagia, and it is treatable. At Vista Speech & Swallowing, Nicholas Raymond, MA, CCC-SLP, provides swallowing therapy for adults at our Arvada clinic, a short drive from most of the Denver metro, with telehealth available anywhere in Colorado.
Therapy here starts with understanding what your swallow is actually doing, not with a generic exercise handout.
Signs you may be dealing with dysphagia
Swallowing problems are common and often develop slowly enough that people adjust without realizing it. Some of the signs we hear about most:
- Coughing or throat clearing during or after meals
- A feeling that food or pills are getting stuck
- A wet or gurgly voice after drinking
- Taking much longer to finish a meal than you used to
- Avoiding certain foods, or cutting everything smaller
- Trouble managing saliva
- Losing weight without meaning to
- Repeated chest infections or pneumonia
Any one of these on its own may be minor. Several together, or one that keeps happening, is a reason to have your swallow evaluated.
Conditions we treat
Dysphagia is usually a symptom of something else, and effective therapy depends on knowing what that something else is. Nicholas works with adults whose swallowing has changed because of:
Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders
Swallowing and voice changes often show up early in Parkinson’s, and both respond to targeted, high-effort therapy.
Stroke
Swallowing is one of the most commonly affected functions after a stroke, and it is also one of the most responsive to rehabilitation.
Head and neck cancer
Surgery, radiation, and chemoradiation all change the mechanics of the swallow, during treatment and for a long time afterward.
ALS and other progressive neurological conditions
Here the goal shifts toward preserving function, eating safely for as long as possible, and planning ahead rather than reversing decline. That work matters just as much.
Traumatic brain injury
Swallowing difficulty after a TBI often sits alongside cognitive and communication changes, which we can address together.
Age-related changes
Muscle strength and coordination change over time, and a swallow that has quietly weakened can usually be strengthened.
How swallowing therapy works here
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We start with a clear picture of your swallow
Nicholas is FEES competency certified and performs Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing in our Arvada office or on site where you are. A FEES study shows exactly where the breakdown is happening, which means therapy targets the real problem instead of guessing at it. If you have already had a swallow study elsewhere, bring those results and we will build from them.
Learn more about our swallow studies -
We build a plan around what your swallow needs
Treatment may include strengthening exercises, changes to how you position yourself and pace your meals, specific swallow maneuvers, and guidance on food and liquid textures. Nicholas uses EMST 150 for expiratory muscle strength training when respiratory support is part of the problem, and he is a certified SPEAK OUT!® provider through the Parkinson Voice Project, a program built specifically for people with Parkinson’s that addresses voice and swallowing together.
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We involve the people who eat with you
Mealtimes are rarely a solo activity. Family members and caregivers are welcome in sessions, and the home practice we assign is meant to be realistic for your actual kitchen and your actual schedule.
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We track whether it is working
Progress gets measured, and the plan changes when the data says it should.
Swallowing therapy in Spanish
Nicholas is a bilingual Spanish and English speech-language pathologist, and he provides swallowing and communication therapy in Spanish. That is not a translated version of an English session. It is therapy delivered in the language you actually eat, talk, and problem-solve in, which makes a real difference in how well home practice carries over.
Terapia de deglución en español. Llame al (720) 509-9640.
Where we see patients
Our Arvada clinic
8850 W 58th Ave Ste 201
Arvada, CO 80002
Parking is on site and the office is accessible. We are roughly fifteen minutes from northwest Denver and convenient to Wheat Ridge, Golden, Westminster, Lakewood, Broomfield, and the surrounding Denver metro.
Telehealth across Colorado
Some parts of swallowing therapy translate well to video, particularly exercise coaching, caregiver training, and follow-up sessions. If travel is difficult or you live outside the metro, ask about telehealth when you call.
Insurance and getting started
You do not always need a physician referral to be evaluated, though some insurance plans require one. If you are not sure, call and we will sort it out with you.
Common questions
Is dysphagia the same thing as a swallowing disorder?
Yes. Dysphagia is the clinical term for difficulty swallowing, whether the difficulty is in the mouth, the throat, or the esophagus. Speech-language pathologists treat the oral and pharyngeal stages.
Do I need a swallow study before starting therapy?
Not always, but it helps. An instrumental study like FEES shows what is happening internally, which lets us target therapy precisely rather than working from observation alone.
How long does swallowing therapy take?
It depends on the cause and severity. Many people attend weekly for six to twelve weeks. Progressive conditions often call for ongoing periodic check-ins instead of a fixed course.
Can swallowing actually improve, or am I just managing it?
Both are real outcomes. After a stroke or cancer treatment, meaningful recovery is often possible. With progressive conditions, therapy focuses on maintaining function and safety for longer, which is a genuine result and not a consolation prize.
Do you treat children?
This page covers adult swallowing therapy. Call us to discuss pediatric feeding and swallowing needs.
Do you come to patients’ homes?
We perform FEES studies on site throughout the Denver metro. Ongoing therapy is based in our Arvada clinic or delivered by telehealth.