Additionally, ancillary services including: biomedical engineering, dentistry, genetics, neurology, otolaryngology, pulmonology, radiology, and social services are also integrated into the patient’s care as needed (Miller et al., 2001). The primary role of the IFT SLP is to evaluate oral motor and feeding skills. This is commonly done through a clinical evaluation and the administration of videofluoroscopic and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing. After conducting these assessments, the SLP must document clinical signs of swallowing dysfunction or comprised airway protection (Miller et al., 2001). Based on the results of these evaluations, the SLP will often collaborate with disciplines such as occupational therapy and psychology
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These methods include, but are not limited to: developing food rules, changing positioning and posture, altering various attributes of food and liquid, making utensil/equipment changes, adjusting feeding schedules, pacing and cue-based strategies, intraoral bolus placement, altering flow rate, behavioral interventions, maneuvers, sensory stimulation, tube feeding, and oral-motor treatments (Arvedson, 1998). However, for newborns, especially those in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), many of these strategies are inapplicable. The most appropriate and utilized management techniques for newborns with dysphagia are changing positioning and posture, pacing and cue-based strategies, altering the rate of flow, making equipment changes, adjusting feeding schedules, and tube feeding (Arvedson, 1998). Altering positioning and posture is an effective strategy for increasing the safety and adequacy of swallowing in newborns. Utilizing this technique during feedings will serve to protect the airway and offer the safe transit of food and liquid (ASHA, n.d.). It is important for SLPs to understand that no single posture will provide improvement to all patients, as those with pediatric dysphagia are not a homogenous group. Some positions to improve swallowing among the pediatric population include: chin down, chin up, head rotation, upright positioning, head stabilization, and cheek and jaw assist (ASHA, n.d.). The postural changes utilized by SLPs will particularly differ in newborns versus older
These methods include, but are not limited to: developing food rules, changing positioning and posture, altering various attributes of food and liquid, making utensil/equipment changes, adjusting feeding schedules, pacing and cue-based strategies, intraoral bolus placement, altering flow rate, behavioral interventions, maneuvers, sensory stimulation, tube feeding, and oral-motor treatments (Arvedson, 1998). However, for newborns, especially those in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), many of these strategies are inapplicable. The most appropriate and utilized management techniques for newborns with dysphagia are changing positioning and posture, pacing and cue-based strategies, altering the rate of flow, making equipment changes, adjusting feeding schedules, and tube feeding (Arvedson, 1998). Altering positioning and posture is an effective strategy for increasing the safety and adequacy of swallowing in newborns. Utilizing this technique during feedings will serve to protect the airway and offer the safe transit of food and liquid (ASHA, n.d.). It is important for SLPs to understand that no single posture will provide improvement to all patients, as those with pediatric dysphagia are not a homogenous group. Some positions to improve swallowing among the pediatric population include: chin down, chin up, head rotation, upright positioning, head stabilization, and cheek and jaw assist (ASHA, n.d.). The postural changes utilized by SLPs will particularly differ in newborns versus older