What is dysphagia?
If children have difficulty swallowing food or liquids, they may be suffering from a term known as dysphagia. This means they are struggling with the swallowing process; transitioning food or liquids from the mouth to the throat, into the esophagus and finally to the stomach. Approximately 25%-45% of typically developing children demonstrate feeding and swallowing difficulties. The total swallowing process is complete from the synchrony of 50 pairs of muscles and 6 primary cranial nerves.
What are the symptoms of dysphagia?
Eating slowly
Swallowing a single mouthful several times
Difficulty coordinating sucking and swallowing
Gagging and/or choking during swallowing
Drooling
Stiffening or arching their bodies during feedings
Coughing while eating or drinking
Wet or raspy sounding voice while eating or drinking
Spitting up or vomiting
Weight loss
Fever during or after eating
Watery nose or eyes during or after feeding
Vomiting during or after eating
Chronic respiratory illnesses
What are some common causes of dysphagia?
Cleft lip or palate
Prematurity
Dental problems
Abnormally large tongue or tonsils
Gastroesophageal disorders/reflux
Developmental disabilities
Neurological disorders
Medication side effects
Sensory issues
Behavioral factors
Social, emotional, and/or environmental factors
How can our speech therapists helps with dysphagia?
If you suspect your child might have pediatric dysphagia or demonstrates dysphagic characteristics, it is important to receive a feeding/swallowing evaluation from a qualified speech-language pathologist (SLP) as soon as possible. OUr SLP’s will be able to determine, not only if your child is having difficulty with swallowing, but also how to develop an intervention plan specific to your child’s needs. Treatment could include the implementation of safe-swallow strategies, diet modification, and referral to other specialists (i.e. GI/ENT). If left untreated, children could suffer from malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration, and even pneumonia.