Imagine a patient named Mister Smith. At 66, he’s just come out of a serious surgery and is recovering in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). As the medical team rushes to provide him with nutrition, they are unaware that he might be struggling to swallow—a condition known as dysphagia. This silent, often overlooked issue affects about two-thirds of ICU patients after extubation. It's a stark reminder of how crucial early detection and management of dysphagia can be in improving patient outcomes.