Your child needs nutritious foods to grow big and strong, but this can be a challenge if they have a swallowing disorder like dysphagia. If your child is struggling to swallow their food or drink without choking, feeding therapy is the perfect solution. Keep reading to learn more about what dysphagia is, how to recognize it, and how our pediatric feeding therapists can help your child overcome this condition so they can enjoy nutritious meals.
What Is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is simply the medical term used to describe trouble swallowing. Swallowing food and drink involves three main parts of the body: the mouth, the throat, and the esophagus. A child can have difficulty due to any of those three areas. This means they can have:
- Difficulty physically chewing their food or getting liquid into their mouth
- Struggles moving the food or drink from their mouth to their throat
- Trouble with how their esophagus moves food into the stomach
Signs and Symptoms of Dysphagia
The most common signs or symptoms of pediatric dysphagia include:
- Frequent coughing or choking during or after eating
- Visible effort or hesitation when trying to swallow
- Gagging or vomiting during or after meals
- Holding food in the mouth without swallowing
- Challenges in maintaining a healthy weight
- Refusing specific food textures
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Eating very slowly
- Arching or stiffening while nursing
What Causes Dysphagia?
Several conditions and disorders can lead to dysphagia in children. Common causes include:
- Oral motor skill delays
- Premature birth
- Cleft lip or palate
- Dental issues like an overbite
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
How Pediatric Feeding Therapy Can Treat Dysphagia
Pediatric feeding therapists work with children to build the oral motor skills they need to eat and drink with confidence. We help children of all ages practice their feeding skills using play-based, proven techniques in our specialized feeding lab, a safe and supportive environment where children can practice these skills under expert supervision. Our feeding therapists will determine the cause of your child’s feeding struggles and develop a personalized treatment plan to address their unique needs. This treatment could include:
At Little Hands at Play, our dedicated pediatric feeding therapists specialize in addressing dysphagia through targeted and personalized therapy. We work with children to build their oral motor skills, enhancing their ability to swallow effectively. Our approach includes:
- Strengthening oral motor skills through fun and simple exercises
- Improving tolerance of foods with different textures
- Learning good posture for safe and efficient swallowing
Schedule an Evaluation
If your child is struggling with dysphagia, Little Hands at Play is here to help. Call us at (479) 226-3409 to schedule an evaluation with our experienced feeding therapists today and we’ll help your child gain the feeding skills they need for their overall health and wellbeing.
