It's not for an aging parent (although I am that too) - I'm starting to feel the effects of age as they relate to dysphagia. It is getting harder to swallow with my head up, and I recently read that a speech therapist may be able to help with strengthening throat muscles, which may help. Has anyone else had this issue? (please tell me I'm not alone, I'm not even 60!) If so, has speech therapy helped? Anything else helped?
I don't have a personal experience to share, but I can confirm that atrophy within the throat muscles and ossification of certain cartilages in the larynx is very normal as one ages. All of which can cause changes to one's voice, and cause swallowing issues. You are correct that this is within scope for a Speech Therapist so it's worth seeking one out for an eval and therapy. However, depending upon your insurance you may need to see an ENT specialist for a referral.
One of my sisters is a speech therapist on the East Coast, and that is one of the challenges they work with. However, given that you are not yet 60, I think you might want to see a doctor to make sure that there is nothing else going on.
I'm not a medical professional, but I've read that sometimes, increasing difficulty with swallowing can be a sign of a medical issue. You might want to check in with your health care provider about it.
My father had PD and took a group theater class to help with speech and dysphagia, but that was many years ago and no longer active. I suggest that you look to PD support groups. Here is a link that may be useful in finding what you seek, even if you do not have any atypical neuro diagnosis: https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/program/find-a-provider/
Agree with the recommendations to start with a basic physical exam and referral to a specialist first, before assuming it's something that a speech therapist could address. There are MANY things that can cause dysphagia, from GERD (acid reflux) to eosinophilic esophagitis, hiatal hernias, nervous system issues, etc. Good luck!