Feeding and swallowing disorders in children are becoming more common today. Many children that experience these difficulties are diagnosed with pediatric dysphagia, a condition that limits the control of chewing, swallowing and feeding. With proper diagnosis and treatment, help is available for children who are experiencing these problems.

Alex O’Neal, Speech and Language Pathologist at South Central Regional Medical Center explains, “At South Central we offer comprehensive treatment for pediatric swallowing and feeding, and these services are available here within our community.”

Pediatric dysphagia occurs when children have difficulty swallowing. O’Neal goes on to explain that children can have difficulty swallowing for a variety of reasons. “Some children may have difficulty with chewing, controlling food, keeping food in their mouth.  Other children have sensory impairments and cannot tolerate various textures, tastes or temperatures.  There are also instances in which children have a delay in initiating swallowing, strangling or aspirating while eating.”

As soon as pediatric dysphagia is noticed, parents are urged to contact their child’s pediatrician. To identify underlying conditions that may be causing the problem, your pediatrician will consult with occupational and speech therapists to determine the appropriate intervention for the child’s best outcome.

“With all developmental skills there is a developmental window for developing appropriate tolerance to flavors, textures, tastes and temperatures.  Our goal for the child is to maximize that,” says O’Neal. “It is also vitally important that children receive appropriate nutrition for their overall cognitive and brain development, along with physical growth.”

South Central Regional Medical Center offers a comprehensive program for children with occupational, physical and speech therapy needs. A physician referral is required for treatment, however for anyone who has questions on pediatric therapy services, please call South Central Pediatric Therapy at 601-399-0534 or visit scrmc.com.