What Is Dysphagia, and How Can it Affect a Child With Cerebral Palsy?

 Posted on December 04, 2020 in Cerebral Palsy

Children with cerebral palsy may experience a wide variety of physical and mental impairments that affect their health and well-being and their ability to live a normal life. Difficulty with swallowing foods and liquids is one issue that commonly affects those with CP, and this condition is known as dysphagia or oral-motor dysfunction. Parents of children with CP will want to understand how this issue may affect their child and the steps they can take to ensure that their son or daughter receives the proper nutrition while avoiding further injuries.

What Causes Dysphagia?

Young people who suffer from cerebral palsy may have limited muscle control, making it difficult for them to move food from their mouth, through their esophagus, and to their stomach. Oropharyngeal dysphagia may occur due to abnormal development or weakness of muscles in the mouth and throat. Esophageal dysphagia may occur because of malformation of muscles in the esophagus, causing food to become dislodged after it is swallowed and before reaching the stomach.

Dysphagia can cause a child to gag or choke on food or liquids, or they may have trouble chewing food, experience pain when swallowing, or feel that food has become stuck in the throat or esophagus. Dysphagia can also lead to difficulties with speech, since children may not have the muscle strength to control their vocal cords.

Treatment for Dysphagia

Parents should be sure to recognize the signs of dysphagia, which may include drooling, taking a long time to eat meals, chewing with an open mouth, lack of energy, regurgitation of food or liquids, or changes to a child’s voice after eating or drinking. In some cases, a doctor may order a swallow study to determine the specific causes of these issues, and this can help determine what measures can be taken to ensure that the child receives adequate nutrition.

Once parents fully understand the nature of their child’s dysphagia, they can make adjustments to their diet to ensure that food is being provided at the proper consistency. If a child has difficulty swallowing liquids, it may be necessary to provide thicker liquids or pureed foods that will be easier to swallow. Cutting solid food into smaller pieces may also help children chew and swallow more effectively.

Parents can also encourage children to fully chew food with their mouth closed and ensure that they maintain the correct posture while eating. Physical or occupational therapy can help a child learn the best ways to avoid problems with swallowing, and therapists may help with muscle exercises that help a child gain more control over the muscles in their mouth and throat.

If dysphagia results in serious difficulties with eating and drinking, a doctor may recommend that a feeding tube be used to provide nutrition or to supplement what a child can swallow orally. In some cases, surgery may be performed to help relax the muscles in the throat or esophagus or remove obstructions that cause difficulty with swallowing.

Contact Our Illinois Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawyers

Dysphagia may be just one of many issues that affect a child with cerebral palsy, and providing the necessary care and treatment can often be very expensive. At the Birth Injury Law Alliance, we can help you determine the forms of financial assistance that you may be able to receive, including pursuing compensation for birth injuries that have affected your child’s health and well-being. Call our knowledgeable Chicago birth injury attorneys today at 312-462-4200 to set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2013224

https://cerebralpalsynewstoday.com/2018/10/15/difficulties-in-swallowing-and-coughing-in-spastic-cerebral-palsy-study-focus/

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Feeding_the_Child_with_Cerebral_Palsy_-_a_speech_therapists_perspective