Final answer:
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can be indicated by symptoms such as coughing or choking during meals, sensation of food being stuck in the throat or chest, and changes in eating habits. Severe cases may result in significant weight loss, due to an inability to consume sufficient food. Regular inspections of the oral cavity and pharynx, which may reveal signs of dysphagia.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is suspected to have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), there are several indicative signs. Patients with dysphagia may exhibit symptoms like coughing or choking during eating or drinking, the sensation that food is stuck in the throat or chest, unexpected weight loss, and sonorous respiration. Further, in the case described, the patient exhibits difficulty in swallowing food, which is a clear sign.
In some instances, dysphagia can cause additional symptoms like recurrent pneumonia, due to aspirating food or liquid into the lungs, as well as changes in eating habits, such as consuming softer foods or drinking more liquids to facilitate swallowing. Finally, significant weight loss, due to an insufficient diet, can be observed as a consequence of severe dysphagia. As part of ordered medical examinations, doctors often inspect the oral cavity and pharynx, which can reveal signs of dysphagia, if present.
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