Instrumental Assessment of Pediatric Dysphagia

Abstract

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have fulfilled primary roles in the evaluation and management of children with feeding/swallowing disorders for more than five decades. The increased incidence and prevalence of newborns, infants, and children with feeding and swallowing disorders has resulted in increased use of instrumental swallowing evaluations. The videofluoroscopic swallow study and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing are the two most commonly used swallowing assessments by SLPs, with ultrasound used less frequently. This article focuses on updates over the past decade in the procedures and utility of instrumental assessments of swallowing function, and identifies future directions that may enable us to meet the needs of the children who are in our care to attain functional outcomes.

Clinical Decision Making in the ICU: Dysphagia Screening, Assessment, and Treatment

“…Primary goals include identifying anatomy, oropharyngeal swallow pathophysiology, the presence and source of laryngeal penetration/ aspiration, effects of behavior, and/or sensory changes on swallowing physiology. [92][93][94] Information from instrumental exams is used to identify specific therapeutic targets for improving swallow function.…”

Videofluoroscopy in Children

“…Obrázok 5: Aspirácia, kontrastná látka preniká pod úroveň hlasiviek Dĺžka vyšetrenia: VFSS u detí priemerne trvá od 1,0-8,12 minút (závisí od veku dieťaťa a jeho celkového zdravotného stavu). Novšie štúdie hovoria o priemere medzi 1,58-2,5 minúty (Arvedson, Lefton-Greif, 2017, Henderson et al, 2016. Trvanie je ovplyvnené viacerými faktormi vrátane veku dieťaťa, kvality jeho porúch prehĺtania (napr.…”

“…Porovnanie oboch najčastejšie používaných objektívnych zobrazovacích metód vyšetrenia aktu prehĺtania u detí uvádzame v tabuľke č. 5 tak, ako ich uvádza Arvedson (Arvedson, Lefton-Greif, 2017…”

Pediatric Feeding Disorders and Severe Developmental Disabilities

“…The reader is referred, however, to the article in this issue by Arvedson and Lefton-Grief for information on the multiple instrumental assessments available for identifying swallowing and feeding problems, some of which arise from gastrointestinal, metabolic, cardiac, respiratory, and other health issues that frequently occur along with DD. 23 Published Assessments Clinical assessments of pediatric feeding fall into the following categories: observational, criterion referenced, standardized, and interview based. A systematic review of noninstrumental swallowing and feeding assessments for children was reported by Heckathorn et al in 2016.…”