Feeding disorders and swallowing problems can occur at any age in the life cycle. Feeding disorders include problems obtaining food and placing it in the mouth to chew or swallow. Swallowing problems (dysphagia) occur at different stages in the swallowing process. With oral phase dysphagia, there is difficulty sucking, chewing and moving food/fluid into the throat. In pharyngeal phase dysphagia, the difficulty lies in initiating the swallow, squeezing food into the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent aspiration or choking. Finally, in esophageal dysphagia, there is difficulty with squeezing food into the stomach from the esophagus.

Signs/Symptoms of Feeding/Swallowing Problems

Feeding disorders and swallowing problems can increase risk of:

• Poor nutrition and dehydration
• Aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway leading to chronic lung disease and pneumonia)
• Embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating
• Less enjoyment of eating or drinking

It is important to monitor patients for feeding disorders and swallowing problems in order to avoid negative consequences and to improve quality of life. If any of the signs/symptoms listed above are noted, it may be necessary to have a swallowing evaluation by a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). Based on the assessment, a long-term feeding/treatment plan can be established to best meet the needs of the patient. Once the SLP has made diet-related recommendations, the dietitian can be helpful in discussing nutritional changes that will ensure nutritional needs are met.

Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association www.asha.org

Questions? Please call your Hospice of Huntington Dietitians:
Kellie Glass RD, LD 606.615.2585 or Amy McFann RD, LD 304.690.5063