The Stollery Outpatient Feeding and Swallowing Clinic provides consultation and assessment to children with swallowing concerns or dysphagia in the absence of an underlying developmental or neurological diagnosis.Swallowing concerns may be due to suspected or known anatomic/physiologic impairments of the mouth, throat, airway, or digestive system. The feeding or swallowing concerns may also be due to an underlying medical condition such as a cardiac, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, or oncology related diagnosis.
Presenting concerns may include:
- weak or uncoordinated sucking
- trouble coordinating breathing and swallowing
- impaired growth / nutrition or dehydration
- noisy breathing or airway congestion during and/or after feeding
- hoarse / wet voice or throat clearing while eating or drinking
- changes in color or state during feeding
- coughing or choking during meals
- frequent respiratory illnesses or pneumonia suggestive of pulmonary aspiration
Once the referral is received, it is reviewed and triaged by the Speech-Language Pathologist. A parent questionnaire is typically then mailed to the family to be completed and returned prior to an appointment being scheduled.
A Speech-Language Pathologist will complete the initial clinical feeding and swallowing evaluation and determine the need for further instrumental assessment (i.e., Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) or Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)). Follow-up visits will be scheduled as required.
Visit the PEAS (Pediatric Eating and Swallowing) website to find relevant information for families and care providers of children with an eating, feeding and swallowing disorder.
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