Red flags Any dysphagia is of concern, but certain findings are more urgent: Symptoms of complete obstruction (eg, drooling, inability to swallow anything) Dysphagia resulting in weight loss New focal neurologic deficit, particularly any objective weakness Recurrent aspiration pneumonia Interpretation of findings Dysphagia that occurs in conjunction with an acute neurologic event is likely the result of that event; new dysphagia in a patient with a stable, long-standing neurologic disorder may have another etiology.