Question: I have a follow-up question to the one posted below. I forgot to mention I have developed a hoarse voice, and difficulties with my singing voice. Both my upper and lower registers are impaired, to the point where I can no longer sing in my choir. Could there be any connection to my swallowing difficulties, as outlined below?
Thanks.

Hello, I recently had a barium swallow for dysphagia; in my case it presents as food being stuck high up in my throat so I have to wash it down. This has been going on for 6-9 months. The report came back saying: "There is apparent discoordination of swallowing function, resulting in reflux of the barium from the pharynx superiorly, reaching the hard palate and a small amount of barium even reaches the nasopharynx....Large amounts of residue seen in the vallecula requiring multiple swallows." The report said all structures were normal, no significant findings of cervical spondylosis, no Zenker's diverticulum, Cricopharyngeus muscle not hypertrophied. Cervical and thoracic oesophagus fully distensible. No mucosal based abnormality seen in the thoracic oesophagus, no stricture identified, no significant motility abnormality seen in the oesophagus. No hiatal hernia, no demonstrable reflux.

I'm being referred to a speech language pathologist for a detailed swallow analysis, and to a neurologist - which is the part that scares me, especially after seeking out Dr. Google. There is a familial tendency for dysphagia: both my mother and aunt developed choking problems in their 50s. As far as I know, those problems were neither investigated nor treated. I am wondering if there are less frightening possibilities than a neurological cause. Is there such a thing as idiopathic familial dysphagia?

I won't get to see a neurologist for quite a while - in Canada, you wait your turn. This is making me very anxious.

Thank you.

I did have an endoscopic examination of my throat by an ENT - or at least I think I did. A small camera on a tube through my nose and down my throat. All looked normal. The report from the barium swallow said all structures were normal, and the ENT said there were no masses. I do not get a followup appointment with the ENT unless the speech language pathologist recommends it.