When Your Child Has Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a condition in which your child has problems swallowing food or liquids. It often affects children who are just learning to eat solid foods. Dysphagia can make it hard for your child to get enough nutrients for good growth.

Normal Swallowing Food enters the mouth and is chewed. The tongue moves the chewed food to the pharynx (back of the throat). The food is then swallowed. It passes into the esophagus (the muscular tube leading to the stomach). The esophagus tightens and relaxes in wavelike motions to move swallowed food into the stomach.

During normal swallowing, food and liquids move from the mouth, through the throat, down the esophagus, and into the stomach.

What Are the Symptoms of Dysphagia?

Common symptoms of dysphagia include:

• Choking, coughing, or sputtering while eating or drinking

• Inability to coordinate chewing and swallowing

• Upper respiratory problems, such as pneumonia, from food or drink being aspirated (inhaled into the lungs)

• Occasional vomiting or regurgitation (flow of stomach contents and digestive acids back into the throat)

What Causes Dysphagia?

Dysphagia can be caused by any of the following:

• Nerve or brain problems that affect control of muscles in the mouth, tongue, throat, or stomach

• Problems with the shape of your child’s mouth, tongue, or throat

• Stricture (thickening or narrowing of the esophagus)

How Is Dysphagia Diagnosed?

To find out if your child has dysphagia, the doctor may order some tests. One such test might be a swallow study. This test can help the doctor learn more about your child’s swallowing problem.

How Is Dysphagia Treated?

A therapist can help your child learn better control of muscles in the mouth, tongue, and throat.

Your child’s treatment will depend on where the problem is located and what is causing the problem. Treatment may include:

• Therapy to help your child learn how to move food properly in the mouth

• Insertion of a feeding tube (if the problem is severe and your child needs help getting nutrition)

• Changes in diet (such as thickened foods that help your child chew more easily)

• A procedure to widen the esophagus (if the esophagus is too narrow)