Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a term that means "difficulty swallowing." It is the inability of food or liquids to pass easily from the mouth, into the throat, and down into the esophagus to the stomach during the process of swallowing.

How Boston Children's Hospital approaches dysphagia

Your child can be treated through our Speech-Language Pathology Program or within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Children's offers a unique Feeding and Swallowing Program, which diagnoses and treats infants, toddlers and school-aged children with a variety of feeding and swallowing problems. Our interdisciplinary staff includes gastroenterologists, pulmonary specialists, radiologists, and otolaryngologists. Our team thoroughly evaluates your child's oral motor skills, swallowing and feeding skills, and nutritional intake.

Boston Children's Hospital also offers diagnosis and treatment for esophageal dysphagia. Esophageal dysphagia is the condition when swallowing is intact, but food sticks within the esophagus. When food sticks in the esophagus, conditions can arise causing inflammation and motility (movement) disorders within the gastrointestinal system. For more information regarding esophageal dysphagia or to make an appointment, please contact the Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Center.