Table Some Causes of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia Mechanism Examples Neurologic Stroke Parkinson disease Multiple sclerosis Some motor neuron disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy, pseudobulbar palsy) Bulbar poliomyelitis Giant cell arteritis Muscular Myasthenia gravis Dermatomyositis Muscular dystrophy Cricopharyngeal incoordination Esophageal dysphagia Esophageal dysphagia is difficulty passing food down the esophagus.