Currently no cure or specific treatment exists to eliminate the symptoms or stop the disease progression. A consistent diet planned with the help of a dietitian along with exercises taught by a speech therapist can assist with mild symptoms of dysphagia. Surgical intervention can also help temporarily manage symptoms related to the ptosis and dysphagia. Cutting one of the throat muscles internally, an operation called cricopharyngeal myotomy, can be one way to ease symptoms in more severe cases. However, for a majority of people, the benefits from such treatments are only temporary. There is currently no treatment available to address the proximal limb weakness. Many of those affected with the proximal limb weakness will eventually require assistive devices such as canes, braces or a wheelchair. As with all surgical procedures, they come with many risk factors. As the dysphagia becomes more severe, patients become malnourished, lose significant weight, become dehydrated and suffer from repeated incidents of aspiration pneumonia. These last two are often the cause of death.
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy
Ataxic cerebral palsy
Athetoid cerebral palsy
Infantile progressive bulbar palsy
Skoptic syndrome
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy