Atlanta Children's ENT

Member Georgia
Otolaryngology Associates

What is a swallowing disorder?

What are some causes of feeding and swallowing problems in children?

What are signs and symptoms of feeding and swallowing problems?

How do these problems affect children?

Where can I get help for my child?

What does a speech-language pathologist do to evaluate swallowing problems?

What kind of treatment can help swallowing problems?

What can family members or caregivers do to help?

Who is a qualified speech-language pathologist?

What is a swallowing disorder?

Also' called dysphagia (“is FAY juh"), swallowing disorders can occur at different stages in the swallowing process:

oral phase

difficulty sucking, chewing, and moving, food or liquid into the throat

pharyngeal phase

difficulty triggering the swallowing squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway) or choking

esophageal phase

difficulty relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bat tom of the esophagus and squeezing food through the esophagus

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What are some causes of feeding and swallowing problems in children?

nervous system disorders (cerebral palsy, meningitis, encephalopathy)
gastrointestinal conditions
prematurity/low birth weight
heart disease
cleft lip or palate
conditions affecting the airway

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What are signs and symptoms of feeding and swallowing problems?

In very young children, may include:

arching or stiffening body during feeding
irritability or lack of alertness during feeding
failure to accept different food textures
prolonged feeding times (more than 3-minutes)

General signs may include:

excessive drooling or leaking food/liquid from mouth
gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice quality
coughing or gagging during meals
recurring pneumonia or respiratory infections
difficulty coordinating breathing with eating or drinking
frequent spitting up
less than normal weight gain or growth

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How do these problems affect children?

dehydration or poor nutrition
risk of aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway)
pneumonia or repeated upper respiratory infections that can lead to chronic lung disease
embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating

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Where can I get help for my child?

Consult your doctor about the possible cause of the swallowing problem. An ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist can perform an evaluation of feeding and swallowing and provide treatment if appropriate. Many medical specialists and other health care professionals may work together to evaluate and/or treat feeding and swallowing problems.

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What does a speech-language pathologist do to evaluate swallowing problems?

takes a careful history of your child's medical history, development, and symptoms
looks at the strength and movement of the muscles involved in swallowing
observes feeding to see your child's posture, behavior, and oral movements during eating and drinking
may perform special tests to evaluate swallowing

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What kind of treatment can help swallowing problems?

Treatment varies greatly depending on the cause and symptoms of the swallowing problem, but may include:

exercises for strength, sensation, and coordination of muscles involved in feeding and swallowing
recommendations for special foods, equipment, or techniques to improve feeding and swallowing

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What can family members or caregivers do to help?

ask questions to understand your child's problems in feeding and swallowing
make sure you understand your child's treatment plan
attend treatment sessions and follow recommended techniques at home and school
communicate with everyone who works with your child about the feeding and swallowing issues and treatment plan

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Who is a qualified speech-language pathologist?

A qualified speech-language pathologist has a master's or doctoral degree, the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and a state license where required.

Speech-language pathologists work in hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, private practices, and schools.

Always ask for a speech-language pathologist who is ASHA-certified and experienced in diagnosing and treating feeding and swallowing problems in children.

Ear:
	Swimmer's ear	Middle ear infections
	Ear wax and Q-tips	Eustachian tube dysfunction
	Childhood Hearing Loss	Noise and Hearing Loss
	Assistive Listening Devices
Nose:
	Stuffy nose	Nosebleeds
	Sinus Infections	Adenoid disease
	Snoring and sleep apnea

Throat:
	Tonsil infections	Tongue tie
	Hoarseness	Noisy breathing
	Cough	Lump in the neck
	Child Language	Stutter
	Swallowing	Voice Problems
	Speech Language Pathologist
Cosmetic:
	Otoplasty

Surgery:
	Ear tubes	Adenoidectomy
	Tonsillectomy	Sinus Surgery
	Airway reconstruction

The information provided on this web site is not intended to take the place of consultation with your physician. You should always consult a physician whenever you require diagnosis or treatment.