Feeding and swallowing disorders in Children
Feeding and swallowing difficulties in children can have far-reaching impacts, affecting their health, learning abilities, and social interactions. These challenges encompass feeding disorders, which involve issues like difficulty with sucking, using a spoon, chewing, or drinking from a cup. Additionally, there are swallowing disorders, medically known as dysphagia (dis-FAY-juh), which manifest as obstacles in the movement of food or liquids from the mouth, through the throat, and into the stomach. While these disorders often coincide with other medical conditions, they can also manifest independently without a known cause.
Addressing these complex issues requires the expertise of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), who specialize in helping children overcome feeding and swallowing problems. SLPs play a crucial role in enhancing a child’s ability to eat, drink, and maintain a healthy relationship with food.