An encyclopedia about voice, swallowing, airway, coughing, & other head + neck disorders.

Composite food is a material that includes more than one consistency. The classic example is chicken noodle soup, because it contains a thin liquid (broth), a soft consistency (noodles), and a solid (chicken). With some individuals who have presbyphagia, for example, the broth component of chicken noodle soup might “get away” while the person is chewing the chicken and noodles, so that the broth spills over into the hypopharynx and even larynx, causing coughing or aspiration. Even a home-made ice cream can do this, as it melts quickly to a thin liquid while the mouth is still busy with the remaining semi-frozen component.