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What
are Dysphagia / feeding disorders / picky eaters?
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty in swallowing.
What is the difference between a picky eater, resistant eater,
and Dysphagia?
Picky or Resistant Eaters
All children go through eating stages. Between the ages of two and
three years old children may demonstrate a fear of new foods which
they out grow. Picky or resistant eaters do not out grow their fear
of foods.
Picky or resistant eaters may:
• Eat
only certain food groups. They may refuse to eat one or more food
groups.
• Demonstrate
anxiety, a fear of food, or tantrums when a new food is given to them
or placed near them.
• Gag
or become sick when a new food is given to them.
• Want
food prepared the exact same way each time.
• Require
a food to be the same brand.
Dysphagia
A child with Dysphagia demonstrates challenges eating or drinking
due to decreased muscle strength, range of motion, or sensitivity
in the oral, pharyngeal, and/or esophageal phase of swallowing.
Oral Phase of Swallowing – The oral phase of swallowing
is a voluntary phase of swallowing. People have to want to put the
food in their mouths and chew it into small pieces to swallow. How
long it takes people to chew their food depends on the consistency
of the food, amount of food in their mouths, and the strength of the
muscles in their mouths.
Some
of the signs and symptoms of an Oral Phase Dysphagia include:
• Food
or liquid may be spilling out of the mouth
• Pocketing
or holding food in the cheek(s)
• Food
remaining on the tounge or lips after the swallow
• Swallowing
multiple times per bite or sip
Pharyngeal Phase of Swallowing – The pharyngeal phase
of swallowing is an involuntary
phase of swallowing. This is when the food or liquid starts to go through
a person’s throat. The larynx or voice box moves up to protect
the lungs when a person swallows. This phase of swallowing typically
lasts about one second.
Some
of the signs and symptoms of a Pharyngeal Phase Dysphagia include:
• Multiple
swallows per bite or sip
• Coughing
during or after the swallow
• Facial
grimaces during the swallow
• Nasal
regurgitation
• Not
ready for the next bite even though there is nothing in the person’s
mouth
Esophageal Phase of Swallowing – The esophageal phase
of swallowing is an involuntary
phase of swallowing.
Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation helps patients overcome their
swallowing disorders. If you or someone you know demonstrates any
signs and symptoms of a swallowing disorder please call us at 972-608-0416
to discuss how Achieve can help.
Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation is a speech and hearing clinic
in Plano, Texas. We offer speech language pathology and audiological
services for children and adults of all ages. Achieve is in-network
with Aetna, Cigna, BlueCrossBlueShield, Medicare, and United Healthcare.
We can help obtain information about your policy to determine if services
are covered under. Please call us at 972-608-0416. |
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