[Feeding disorders and failure to thrive in small and/or handicapped children]

Feeding disorders and failure-to-thrive (prevalence 2% to 4%) rarely have an isolated cause, but most often a number of inappropriate conditions are leading up to the development and, especially, the maintenance of the disorder. These can include organic causes like chronic diseases, peculiarities of the person, strange behavior of the child or the care person or of the interaction-problems. An obligatory classification of feeding disorders does not exist. Feeding disorders and failure-to-thrive can ask for a long-term additional or full tube-feeding or the child rejects age-appropriate food texture, has a very selective eating behavior or there are massive interaction problems during feeding. Feeding disorders and failure-to-thrive can not only have direct physical effects but also long-term unfavourable influences on behavioral aspects as well as on mental abilities. The diagnosis of feeding disorders and failure-to-thrive comprises next to the clarification of a basic organic disease, the clarification of swallowing and oral-motor capabilities as well as the exclusion of a gastroesophageal reflux. A differentiated feeding protocol must include the oral feeding as well as the tube feeding. A behavior observation comprises the feeding situation and, if necessary, further situations of interaction. Besides the treatment of the basic disease, a direct guidance in the feeding situation for the care person is necessary. Furthermore, a therapy of the oral motorics as well as one of the care person and guidelines for interaction during different situations can be important.