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Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of childhood onset eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties including the following: definitions of paediatric oro-pharyngeal dysphagia and Paediatric Feeding Disorder; biopsychosocial factors that influence eating, drinking and swallowing; different presentations across ages and stages of development; prevalence and aetiology; and assessment and management of eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. This overview of paediatric eating and drinking difficulties provides a route map to guide speech and language therapy practice and further study. The chapter includes an outline of the stages of eating, drinking and swallowing with challenges and risks that arise with disturbances at anticipatory, oral, pharyngeal and oesophageal stages. Airway protection, nutrition and hydration needs and quality of life are key considerations. The chapter recognises the importance of person-centred care and uses the ICF Framework to consider the needs of the infant and child with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties across the life-course.

Publication Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Supporting Children’s Speech, Language and Communication Needs on 13 November 2025, available online:https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003671626
Subjects:	R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Allied Health
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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