Feeding & Swallowing
A lot is involved when eating. The process of feeding begins with putting the food onto the fork/spoon, opening the mouth, putting the food in the mouth, and then close the mouth. Lastly, chewing the food and getting ready to swallow it down.
Children must learn this process. At first, children, will start sucking and and then will learn to eat solid foods or drink independently from a cup. Sometimes children will spill drinks from their mouths, or will push food back out or gag. However, most of these should go away as time passes. A child with a feeding disorder will keep having trouble. Some children will be stuck and only eat certain foods, or some may take a relatively long time to eat their foods. These are also children who may have a feeding disorder.
Additionally, some children may have swallowing problems, otherwise known as dysphagia. A child may have trouble in one or more phases of swallowing which include:
- Oral phase – sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat. Feeding is a part of the oral phase.
- Pharyngeal phase – starting the swallow and squeezing food down the throat. The child needs to close off his airway to keep food or liquid out. Food going into the airway can cause coughing and choking.
- Esophageal phase – opening and closing the esophagus, or the tube that goes from the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus squeezes food down to the stomach. Food can get stuck in the esophagus. If there is too much problem with esophagus, the child may throw up.
Signs of Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
If your child experiences any of the points below, he/she may have a feeding disorder:
- Arches her back or stiffens when feeding
- Cries or fusses when feeding
- Falls asleep when feeding
- Has/had problems breast feeding
- Has trouble breathing while eating and drinking
- Refuses to eat or drink
- Eats only certain textures, such as soft food or crunchy food
- Takes a long time to eat
- Has problems chewing
- Coughs or gags during meals
- Drools a lot or has liquid come out her mouth or nose
- Gets stuffy during meals
- Has a gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice during or after meals
- Spits up or throws up a lot
- Is not gaining weight or growing
Your child does not need to have every sign that is listed here. Your child can show many signs or a few of them. Not every child has every sign listed here. Don't wait for therapy. Your child may be at risk for:
- dehydration or poor nutrition
- food or liquid going into the airway, called aspiration
- other lung dysfunctions such as pneumonia
- feeling embarrassed about his eating problems. He may eat alone or refuse to eat around others.
Causes of Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
There are many possible causes for feeding and swallowing problems, including:
- nervous system disorders, like cerebral palsy or meningitis
- reflux or other stomach problems
- being premature or having a low birth weight
- heart disease
- cleft lip or palate
- breathing problems, like asthma or other diseases
- autism
- head and neck problems
- muscle weakness in the face and neck
- medicines that make her sleepy or not hungry
- sensory issues
- behavior problem
Treatment for Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
At KidsCare Speech Therapy, we would work on: feeding therapy, trying different foods with your child to help with adding calories to food, work on new ways to get your child to try new foods or textures, or maybe changing your child's position while eating and finding new ways to handle your child's behavior in relation to foods or eating. Speech language pathologist may also refer out to seeing another professional, such as a dentist, psychologist or registered dietitian.
If the case becomes too severe, your child may need to get nutrition in other ways throw her nose or her stomach.
Additionally, the speech language pathologist at KidsCare Speech Therapy will work on making the muscles of his mouth and tongue stronger. Also, we would help in getting your child to try new foods and drinks, and improving how well he can such a bottle or drink from a cup. Changing food textures and liquid thickness to help them swallow safely.
It is very important for you to be part of your child's treatment. You can:
- ask questions to understand the problems your child has
- make sure you understand what the Speech-Language Pathologist will be working on with your child
- Attend all the sessions so you can see what they are working on
* At KidsCare Speech Therapy, we offer both individual and group feeding therapy sessions. Please inquire if you are interested.
