About Us
Feeding and swallowing disorders (dysphagia) are defined as difficulty with any step of the feeding process - from accepting foods and liquids into the mouth to the entry of food into the stomach. Feeding is the most complex task an infant and children must do on a daily basis. Learning to eat a wide variety of foods and drinking enough fluids continues to be a challenge for many children throughout childhood. Safe and efficient feeding and swallowing skills are important to allow children to meet their nutritional requirements as they grow. Eating with family and friends is also an important social activity.
The Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Program at HMC specialize in helping infants and children age ranging from birth to 14 years, who have difficulty with feeding and swallowing. Our services are based on interdisciplinary approach and family centered care.
Our Services
- Team based clinical evaluation of feeding and swallowing issues.
- Objective evaluation of feeding and swallowing via
- Fiber optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
- Modified Barium Swallow Study/ video fluoroscopic Swallowing Exam
- Aero digestive consultation (pulmonology, ENT and gastroenterology)
- Individual treatment sessions.
- Patient and family training and education.
- Home programs for families who attend our intervention sessions.
Our Team
- Neurodevelopmental pediatrician
- Speech language pathologist
- Occupational therapist
- Dietetics
- Nurse
- Psychologist
- Family
Conditions We Treat
Treatment can help children who exhibit symptoms such as:
- Delays in oral motor skills, such as being unable to suck (drink) from a bottle or chew
- Sensory issues such as being unable to tolerate a texture or taste in the mouth
- Feeding and swallowing disorders associated with medical conditions, ranging in severity and cause from gastro esophageal reflux to organ transplantation
- Feeding and swallowing disorders associated with developmental disorders and syndromes
- Significant social or behavioral problems that impact eating
- Being ready for the transition from dependency on IV (total parental nutrition or TPN) or tube feeding for nutrition but are ready to eat by mouth
- Lack of progression to eating an adequate number of foods of various textures and/or food groups
- Coughing or choking during feeding
- Prolonged feeding time (greater than 30 min per feed)
- Weight loss and dehydration
- Difficulty in initiating swallowing and managing secretions
- Breathing difficulties (such as increased respiratory rate during feeding, skin color change - turning blue, apnea, or sudden / frequent stopping of breathing).
Referral to The Clinic
The Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Rehabilitation Program in the Child Development Center accepts referrals from physicians at HMC and Primary Health Care.
What Will Happen After the Referral
- You will receive a call from the Child Development Center about the date and time for your first appointment in pediatric feeding and swallowing clinic.
- When you bring your child for the assessment, please do not feed the child two hours before the appointment time.
- Also please bring different types of food that your child eats along with the feeding utensils used at home (such as feeding bottles, spoon cups, bowls) for feeding trials.
- During the assessment, detailed and comprehensive evaluation will be conducted by the feeding and swallowing team.
- Once assessment is completed, the treatment and management plan is formulated by the team in collaboration with the family.
- The child may need and undergo more work up and investigation majorly related to swallowing, pulmonology and gastroenterology.
- Based on the needs of the child, he/she may be enrolled in the feeding and swallowing program for intervention that is based on family centered care.
- The family also has easy access to our program and professionals in the program through telephone and emails.
- If the team assessment reveals that the child does not need regular feeding and swallowing intervention, a home program is provided to the family. Also a clear discharge plan is communicated to the family.
