What is Swallowing and Feeding Disorder?

Kids with swallowing and feeding issue struggle to eat and drink and are in danger of health as well as dehydration. Kids’ swallowing and feeding disorder care team involves pediatric gastroenterologists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and ear, nose, and throat specialists. Provide careful treatment to help your youngster.

Children may take a long time to eat and only eat certain foods. Swallowing disorder is also known as dysphagia. It can occur in three stages chewing, sucking and moving food into the throat.

If you need more information or you have a question regarding Swallowing and Feeding Disorder, you can discuss it with our HearingSol healthcare professionals, just give us a call on +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.

Swallowing and Feeding Disorders

Feeding disorders happen when a child is not eating in a developmentally appropriate way. A child may be unable to close their lips to stop food from falling out of their mouth. Older infants and children may not be able to grab food and bring it to their mouths.

Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) can cause some feeding problems. Swallowing problems are tied to the stages of the swallowing process:

Oral phase, when sucking and chewing moves food and liquid into the throat.

Pharyngeal phase, when the tongue pushes food to the back of the mouth, where it is squeezed down the throat. The larynx (voice box) and airway close tightly to prevent choking.

Esophageal phase, when food is squeezed into the stomach by the relaxing and tightening of muscles.

Signs of Swallowing and Feeding Disorders –

• Has trouble breathing while eating and drinking
• Is not growing and gaining weight
• Gags or coughs during meals
• Eats only soft food or crunchy food
• Refuses to drink or eat
• Problems during breastfeeding
• Throws or spits up a lot
• Has problems in chewing

The risk for swallowing and feeding disorders in children with:

• Prematurity
• Developmental disorders, such as autism
• Short bowel syndrome
• Head and neck abnormalities, cancer and/or its treatments
• Breathing or airway problems
• Weakness in face and neck muscles

Causes of Swallowing and Feeding Disorders –

• Neck and head problems
• Muscle weakness in the neck and face
• Nervous system disorders
• Heart disease
• Cleft palate or Cleft lip
• Behavior problems
• Medicines that make sleepy or not hungry
• Breathing problems
• Autism

Treatment

Your child’s treatments may include a variety of approaches and therapies to correct and improve feeding and swallowing. We do our best to arrange all of your child’s appointments for the same day, so you can meet with your doctor, and speech pathologist in one visit.

Swallowing Therapy

Your child may work with a speech pathologist to improve his or her ability to swallow. The therapist will help your child improve chewing, sucking, and tongue movements, and strengthen muscles in the mouth and throat used for swallowing. Your child may also practice with different food textures and thicknesses to promote safe swallowing and prevent choking.

Feeding Therapy

A dietitian and speech pathologist can help your child get the calories and nutrition he or she needs while also learning how to accept foods that look and feel different. Feeding therapy can involve eating different foods at hot and cold temperatures and with varying textures, as well as different feeding/drinking implements and seating positions.

Conclusion

Clinical evidence shows that children with feeding and swallowing problems benefit from the services of a speech-language pathologist. They will give you tips on how to help your child outside of appointments.

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