Child Dysphagia

Swallowing Disorders in Children

What are swallowing disorders?

Swallowing disorder is difficulty or inabilty to transport the food or liquid from the mouth, into the phraynx then into the esophagus.Swallowing disorders can occur at different phases of the swallowing processOral phase – sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat Pharyngeal phase – starting the swallow, squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway (aspiration) or to prevent chokingEsophageal phase – relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the feeding tube in the throat (esophagus) and squeezing food through the esophagus into the stomach.

What are signs and symptons of feeding and swallowing disorders in children?

(According to ASHA signs and symptoms of swallowing disorders in children vary from child to child.) 

Arching or stiffening of the body during feedingIrritability or lack of alertness during feedingRefusing food or liquidFailure to accept different textures of food (e.g., only pureed foods or crunchy cereals)Long feeding times (e.g., more than 30 minutes)Difficulty chewingDifficulty breast feedingCoughing or gagging during mealsExcessive drooling or food/liquid coming out of the mouth or noseDifficulty coordinating breathing with eating and drinkingIncreased stuffiness during mealsGurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice qualityFrequent spitting up or vomitingRecurring pneumonia or respiratory infectionsLess than normal weight gain or growth

If feeding therapy with an SLP is recommended, the focus on intervention may include the following: 

Making the muscles of the mouth strongerIncreasing tongue movementImproving chewingIncreasing acceptance of different foods and liquidsImproving sucking and/or drinking abilityCoordinating the suck-swallow-breath pattern (for infants)Altering food textures and liquid thickness to ensure safe swallowing