What is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia means difficulty in feeding or swallowing. Some children are better eaters than others. However, when mealtimes become an everyday problem affecting child’s growth and causing stress to both children and adults, this may be a symptom of a feeding and/or swallowing disorder. It may affect all activities that involve swallowing: eating and drinking, saliva management, ingesting medications, and oral hygiene. Children with feeding and swallowing disorders may be at risk for dehydration, poor nutrition, weight loss or failure to gain weight, or grow properly, repeated upper respiratory infections, pneumonia and other serious lung conditions, as well as social isolation during mealtimes.

What Causes Dysphagia?

Dysphagia can occur for a number of different reasons. Common genetic, medical, and environmental factors associated with dysphagia include gastroesophageal reflux disease, autism, prematurity, sensory integration disorder, developmental delays, genetic syndromes, cleft palate, tracheostomy, food allergies or certain medications.

Our treatment approach

A comprehensive evaluation is instrumental in diagnosis and treatment of children with dysphagia. We offer a personalized treatment plan that is focused on medical, nutritional, sensory, motor, and behavioral problems of each client. Our therapists are specially trained in Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding and employ motor learning, systematic desensitization, and behavior modification techniques to address movement, sensory, and behavior issues in our feeding sessions.

Does my child need feeding therapy?

Symptoms of dysphagia may be obvious but sometimes they may look like other conditions and can be difficult to associate with swallowing problems.

Please review carefully each bullet point and check all that applies:

• Poor weight gain
• Crying, arching, or stiffening while breast feeding
• Ongoing coughing, gagging, or vomiting during meals
• History of choking
• Refusing new food and age-appropriate food (e.g., only accepting pureed food)
• Food spillage from mouth or nose
• Difficulty chewing
• Irritability during meals
• Extended feeding time (more than 30 minutes)
• Excessive drooling
• Difficulty coordinating breathing with eating or drinking
• Gurgle or breathy voice during meals
• Recurring respiratory infections

Do you have several check marks? To learn more about pediatric feeding therapy for dysphagia, or to get a snapshot of your child’s current feeding skills, please contact us for a FREE screening appointment.