About the signs and symptoms of swallowing disorders in children
Swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia, can be addressed through speech therapy swallowing treatment. Sydney speech language pathologists (SLPs) can diagnose and treat swallowing disorders so that children are able to live without unpleasant symptoms of the disorder. Children’s speech therapy uses a variety of techniques to correct the problem depending on the underlying cause of the condition.
The signs and symptoms of dysphagia include:
- Body stiffness or arching during meals
- Child consistently refuses food or liquid
- Problems chewing
- Irritability during feeding
- Lack of alertness during feeding
- Difficulty with breast feeding
- Gagging or coughing during meals
- Excessive feeding times
- Rejects different foods based on texture
- Stuffiness during feeding
- Vomiting or spitting up food
- Insufficient weight gain
- Chronic respiratory infections
- Frequent drooling during meals
- Excessive amount of food or liquid coming out of the nose or mouth
- Difficulty breathing and eating/drinking at the same time
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, it is important to schedule an appointment with your paediatrician who will be able to determine if there are any underlying medical problems. Your pediatrician may recommend that you visit a child’s speech pathology clinic in Sydney to speak with a professional who specializes in treating speech therapy swallowing treatment methods.
A child’s speech therapy professional will ask you about your child’s symptoms and medical history. The series of diagnostic tests will help your SLP to determine the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.
If you have questions or concerns about swallowing disorders in children, contact your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a speech pathologist. We‘ll provide you with a straightforward, efficient and very effective treatment plan targeted to your concerns.
