Exploring Feeding/Swallowing Disorders Versus Eating Disorders in Children

What would you say if a graduate student or clinical fellow asked you to explain the difference between a feeding/swallowing disorder and an eating disorder for pediatric patients? As a pediatric feeding and swallowing specialists, I answer this question with, “It’s complicated.” Often, an overriding medical issue—such as gastrointestinal issues or poor oral strength and coordination due to prematurity—causes feeding and swallowing disorders. As medical issues resolve, feeding and swallowing issues can persist. And, over time, these issues could gradually change from medically based issues to increasingly behaviorally based. Speech-language pathologists working in pediatric dysphagia constantly assess and reassess the nature of the feeding/swallowing issues and how they change. Was the problem clearly dysphagia at first, for example, but after a few months of treatment became more of a feeding difficulty? For older children, can they now explain an overarching fear with eating? I ask myself many questions after each outpatient visit with a patient and their family: Are there any new gastrointestinal issues? How did the appointment go? When is the next one? How was the visit to the pulmonologist? Were any tests ordered? How are things going during the school lunch time? How does intake look in this setting? Advocating for the child by reviewing these issues with parents is an integral part of all my outpatient sessions. Slowly, as children get older, weekly appo...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Dysphagia eating disorders Feeding Disorders Social Media Source Type: blogs