Can Speech Therapy Help With Belching (Aerophagia)
Ingesting small amounts of air when eating, talking, or laughing is a normal part of the human experience. However, some people gulp or ingest excessive amounts of air, which can cause uncomfortable gastrointestinal problems. This condition is known as aerophagia, which is a medical term that refers to repetitive or extreme air ingestion. Aerophagia can be a long-term (chronic) or short-term (acute) condition that can be linked to psychological or physical aspects.
Individuals with aerophagia often struggle with excessive and frequent burping and discomfort, which can cause feelings of embarrassment and make effective communication challenging. Speech therapy can help improve breathing patterns when speaking, laughing, or eating to reduce the effects on communication caused by aerophagia.
Effective communication is an essential part of daily life, and individuals who are struggling to communicate should seek the support of an experienced speech and language pathologist. You can get started with one of our specialized speech therapists by scheduling your free introductory call today!
What are the Symptoms of Aerophagia?
Most individuals will swallow approximately 2 quarts of air each day while talking, drinking, and eating. About half of that air is released via burping, while the remaining air travels through the digestive tract and is released as flatulence, and this gas is passed easily. Individuals with aerophagia take in too much air and, as a result, struggle with uncomfortable and often embarrassing symptoms.
Some of the most common symptoms of aerophagia include:
- Excessive Belching
- Extreme Bloating
- Discomfort in their Abdomen and Digestive Tract
- Abdominal Distension
- Excessive Flatulence
- Audible Air Gulping
Many individuals with aerophagia also report that their symptoms worsen throughout the day, likely due to the build-up of air in their system as the day progresses.
Why Do I Swallow Air When I Talk?
While the ability to take in the right amount of air when speaking or eating may seem simple enough, there are several reasons why individuals may take in too much air. Aerophagia can be linked to one of the following causes:
Mechanical Problems
The way an individual eats, drinks, breathes, and speaks can lead to excessive air swallowing and aerophagia. Some habits that can cause the development of aerophagia include:
- Eating Too Quickly
- Speaking While Eating
- Regularly Chewing Gum
- Frequently Drinking Through a Straw
- Breathing Through the Mouth
- Smoking Tobacco
- Vigorous Exercise
- Frequently Consuming Carbonated Drinks
Medical Conditions
Some medical can cause aerophagia, including:
Sleep Apnea - Individuals who use a CPAP machine to manage sleep apnea are also prone to developing aerophagia. A CPAP machine supplies consistent air pressure through a tight-fitting mask. In some cases, this can cause the individual to ingest more air than they should, leading to aerophagia.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - Individuals with GERD typically swallow more often when attempting to clear acid from their esophagus, causing them to ingest more air.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - COPD can cause breathing difficulties, leading individuals to ingest more air than is usual as they struggle to take deep breaths throughout the day.
Asthma - Similarly to COPD, asthma can cause individuals to swallow excessive amounts of air due to difficulty breathing.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - IBS can cause discomfort due to bloating and gastrointestinal upset, often causing individuals to swallow more air as they attempt to relieve their symptoms.
Neurological Disorders - Some neurological disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease, affect the muscles and mechanisms used for swallowing, which in some cases leads to excessive air ingestion and aerophagia.
Mental Factors
Stress and anxiety can play a significant role in the development of aerophagia in some individuals. It is common for individuals who struggle with stress, anxiety, and/or depression to have panic attacks or hyperventilate, causing them to ingest more air as they take rapid, shallow breaths. Some individuals may also develop nervous habits or coping mechanisms such as chewing on objects, biting their nails or lips, or swallowing frequently, all of which can lead to excessive air intake.
Some physical symptoms of stress and anxiety can also lead to aerophagia, such as the sensation of a “lump in the throat” or feeling unable to catch a breath, which can lead to the intake of more air than usual.
If you or a loved one might benefit from working with a speech and language pathologist, why not schedule your free introductory call today to get started?
What is the Difference between Dysphagia and Aerophagia?
Dysphagia is defined as difficulty swallowing or beginning to swallow, particularly when eating or drinking. Some of the most common signs of dysphagia include choking or coughing when drinking or eating, bringing food back up after swallowing (sometimes through the nose), the sensation of food being stuck in the throat, or a voice that sounds gurgly or wet. Individuals with dysphagia may also drool or struggle with chewing.
Dysphagia is different from aerophagia, as it is a problem with the process and mechanism of swallowing, as opposed to excessive air swallowing.
How Can Speech Therapy Help with Aerophagia?
Addressing aerophagia should begin by identifying the underlying cause of the disorder. Effective treatment will depend on whether the cause of the excessive air intake is habitual, medical, or psychological.
In addition to treating the cause of aerophagia, speech therapy is commonly recommended to help individuals manage their air intake. When working with an individual with aerophagia, speech therapists often aim to:
Increase Awareness - By helping the individual become more aware of their air intake and help them minimize how much air they are swallowing.
Teach Breathing Techniques - Speech therapists will often teach diaphragmatic breathing techniques and exercises to help individuals with aerophagia. By taking deeper breaths as opposed to rapid shallow ones, less air is swallowed and symptoms are reduced.
Provide Relaxation Exercises - Helping an individual manage their stress and anxiety through relaxation techniques can drastically reduce the symptoms of aerophagia. Techniques might include meditation, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation.
Encourage Behavioural Modification - The speech therapist will work with the individual to identify any habits or lifestyle factors that may be contributing to their aerophagia. Taking action such as quitting smoking, avoiding chewing gum, intentionally eating and drinking more slowly, avoiding talking while eating, and improving posture, can all help to reduce the symptoms of aerophagia.
Individuals with aerophagia often struggle to speak fluently and clearly, experience vocal strain, and speak at a rapid rate. These effects on communication can be significant, and seeking support is an important part of overcoming these challenges. Starting on the path to clearer communication and increased confidence is just a click away. Schedule your free introductory call today!