My mom to also had the same problem. She was on a feeding tube though. She would try foods and she had a swallow study done, that resulted in her aspirating to her lungs. I do believe there are excercises the speech theripist will do that will help build the muscles to prevent this from happening.

Was Primary caregiver to my mom who had stage IV, SCC, Supraglottic with Mets to 4 nodes. Diagnosed Feb 04, died unexpectedly from complications from treatment December 17, 2004.