SWALLOWING & FEEDING DISORDERS – JB Speech Therapy

Swallowing and Feeding Disorders in Children and Adults

Children as little as pre-term and newborn babies may suffer from an inability to latch, suck or swallow. We are able to assist and are proud to say that we are now stockists of Medela products. Two of our favourite tools to use is the:

Haberman Special Needs Feeder

This bottle is unique and will be offered to our babies who suffer from severe reflux, has a cleft lip/palate, elevated hard palate or related structural deformities.

Supplemental Nursing System (SNS)

This device helps with our babies who struggle to latch and suck sufficiently to get milk out of the breast. This can be attached to a mother’s nipples or be used alternatively to finger feed.

What are some signs or symptoms of feeding and swallowing disorders in children?

Children with feeding and swallowing problems have a wide variety of symptoms. Not all signs and symptoms are present in every child.

The following are signs and symptoms of feeding and swallowing problems in very young children:

arching or stiffening of the body during feeding
irritability or lack of alertness during feeding
refusing food or liquid
failure to accept different textures of food (e.g., only pureed foods or crunchy cereals)
long feeding times (e.g., more than 30 minutes)
difficulty chewing
difficulty breast feeding
coughing or gagging during meals
excessive drooling or food/liquid coming out of the mouth or nose
difficulty coordinating breathing with eating and drinking
increased stuffiness during meals
gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice quality
frequent spitting up or vomiting
recurring pneumonia or respiratory infections
less than normal weight gain or growth

As a result, children may be at risk for:

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

What are some signs or symptoms of swallowing disorders in Adults?

Several diseases, conditions, or surgical interventions can result in swallowing problems.

General signs may include:

coughing during or right after eating or drinking
wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
food or liquid leaking from the mouth or getting stuck in the mouth
recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough

As a result, adults may have:

poor nutrition or dehydration
risk of aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway), which can lead to pneumonia and chronic lung disease
less enjoyment of eating or drinking
embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating

For more information on a demonstration of our Medela products or for more information on feeding, feel free to contact us.

Also reference www.asha.org for more information on feeding.