Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as: a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, or dementia cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus Dysphagia can also occur in children as the result of a developmental or learning disability. Dysphagia can be caused by problems with the: mouth or throat, known as oropharyngeal or "high" dysphagia oesophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach), known as oesophageal or "low" dysphagia