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Semin Speech Lang 2016; 37(04): 298-309
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1587702
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Pediatric Feeding/Swallowing: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Maureen A. Lefton-Greif
1   Department of Pediatrics
2   The Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences
3   The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
4   Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Joan C. Arvedson
5   Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
6   Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 October 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have played primary roles in the evaluation and management of children with feeding/swallowing disorders for more than five decades. Medical, surgical, and technological advances have improved the survival of young fragile infants and children, many of whom will present with feeding/swallowing problems. Regardless of their underlying etiologies, many of these children are at risk for aspiration-induced lung disease, undernutrition or malnutrition, developmental deficits, and stressful interactions with their caregivers. Unfortunately, our understanding of the physiology/pathophysiology of swallowing and its maturation, the development of standardized and efficacious evaluation and therapy tools, and identification of functional outcomes have not kept pace with our ability to identify children who are at increased risk for dysphagia and the associated sequelae. Given this paucity of evidence to guide practice in pediatrics, clinicians rely upon a combination of data extrapolated from adults with dysphagia, anecdotal reports, and institution-specific guidelines. This article focuses on updates in population demographics and advances in evaluation and treatment over the past decade and identifies future directions that may enable us to meet the needs of the children who are in our care to attain functional outcomes.

Keywords

Dysphagia - deglutition - swallowing - pediatrics - evaluation - management
 

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