Feeding and Swallowing Therapy
What are Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) are difficulties moving solids and liquids from the mouth, throat or esophagus to the stomach. Difficulty swallowing can happen across one or multiple stages; oral phase (biting, sucking, lateralizing, chewing, feeding), pharyngeal phase (airway protection), or esophageal phase (difficulty at the level of the esophagus). Oral motor deficits can directly impact the oral phase of the swallow. Oral motor deficits are often decreased structure and/or function of the cheeks, tongue, lips and jaw. Tongue, lip and cheek ties (structural deficits) can impact both the oral phase of the swallow and oral motor skills. Additionally, the sensory system can impact both feeding and swallowing. Feeding Disorders are difficulties associated with mealtime habits; picky eating, refusals, restrictive diets, drinking from a cup and using utensils. Almost all feeding and swallowing disorders consist of both sensory and motor deficits and are not purely behavioral in nature.
We help solve feeding and swallowing disorders that can lead to health, learning and social problems.
Signs and Symptoms of Potential Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
- coughing, throat clearing, watery eyes and/or gurgly voice during or after meals
- food refusals, picky eating
- excessive drooling
- difficulty breastfeeding: fussing, arching back, falling asleep, poor suck-swallow-breath coordination, vomiting
- difficulty lateralizing and chewing food
- difficulty clearing food from the mouth following chewing: pocketing and residue
- poor weight gain
- prolonged meal times
- difficulty eating from a spoon or drinking from a cup
- oral habits
- food related anxiety
How Can We Help
The goal of therapeutic feeding services is to provide adequate nutrition and develop normalized oral motor function for feeding; all while providing safety and independence with the least restrictive diet. We offer VitalStim therapy to promote swallowing through the application of neuromuscular education to the swallowing muscles. VitalStim treatment within therapeutic swallowing treatment helps to strengthen and re-educate muscles and improve overall motor control. VitalStim makes swallows that were not otherwise possible, possible. Feeding and swallowing treatment at NSU utilizes both a sensory and motor approach to enhancing the musculature and function of the swallow mechanism, decreasing food related anxiety, and improving swallowing skills in a fun learning environment.
