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From left: Gwenyth Lin, MS, CCC-SLP, Jennifer Perez, MS, CCC-SLP, Christina Deery, MS, CCC-SLP, and Kara Fletcher Larson, MS, CCC-SLP |
Children with dysphagia, or swallowing problems, can be treated through the Feeding and Swallowing Program, a specialized branch of Children's Hospital Boston's Speech-Language Pathology Program.
Many of the program's patients are battling neurological issues such as seizures or cerebral palsy, or genetic disorders like Down
syndrome, all of which can interfere with their swallowing ability. In addition, many of the program's patients have motor-based
or sensory-based feeding disorders.
Program basics
- oral motor issues (chewing and drinking)
- sensory-based feeding issues (gagging or trouble progressing from purees to table foods)
- developmental feeding skills (using cups and spoons)
- g-tube weaning, failure to thrive and picky eating
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A pediatric radiologist and speech-language pathologist
specializing in dysphagia evaluate children for swallowing
problems. They use a modified barium swallow study (MBS), also called a videofluoroscopic swallow study.
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Through an MBS, experts can identify a child's point of
difficulty during swallowing. Results are given to the family immediately, along with instructions on the safest type of diet for their child, as well as food consistencies to avoid.
What the program offers
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evaluation and review by interdisciplinary staff,
including speech-language pathologists, and specialists in Gastroenterology, Otolaryngology, Pulmonary Medicine and Radiology
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collaboration with medical staff in the Center for
Aerodigestive Disorders (CADD)
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outpatient triaging (upon referral); patients are then either scheduled for a swallow study or a clinical feeding evaluation, depending on the issue
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bedside feeding evaluations for inpatients
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referral recommendations for patients who should be
progressing to new foods but are not doing so due to picky eating habits or other physical or behavioral issues
Research highlights
Eugene Goldfield, PhD, a Children's, psychologist is spearheading a three-year project that explores the dynamics of premature infant swallowing through the use of videofluoroscopy, including:
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differences in the timing or the mechanics of swallowing,
based on viscosity changes
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swallowing problems of premature infants, who often face
lung disease and an increased risk of dysphasia
Dr. Goldfield is also conducting a clinical trial of a new interventional device, called the active bottle, for improving feeding of infants with swallowing problems. Enrolled pre- or full-term infants who have had open heart surgery will use the active bottle for some feedings to determine if their sucking, swallowing and breathing problems improve.
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