PEDIATRIC DYSPHAGIA FOR THE MEDICALLY COMPLEX INFANT, TODDLER, CHILD

Course overview

The ability to eat with peers in during snack time, or participate in family mealtimes may be the norm for the general population, however there is a subset of the pediatric population that does not have the ability to independently or safely engage in these activities of daily living due to the presence and severity of their oropharyngeal dysphagia. This 6 hour course is designed to educate attendees on the intricate interplay of the pediatric Brain-Mouth-Gut connection and how errors in this system, (such as inter-uterine CVA, diminished mastication reflexes, and delayed GI motility), can result in oropharyngeal dysphagia. Objective Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Describe typical development and sequence of deglutition and digestion. Explain the typical development of at least 3 reflexes related to mastication and deglutition. Name 4 common pediatric medical diagnoses and describe how each diagnosis in conjunction with medical management can contribute to oropharyngeal dysphagia. Name 3 different ¿tubes¿ for feeding and describe their impact on the normal Brain-Mouth-Gut connection. List 5 examples of therapeutic interventions to help re-establish the brain-mouth-gut connection and treatment of orophayrngeal dysphagia and how to implement.