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Videofluoroscopic analysis of the infant swallow
L A Newman1, R H Cleveland, J G Blickman
1Department of Communicative Disorders, Boston University, Massachusetts.
Investigative Radiology
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Understanding normal infant swallowing is key to identifying abnormalities. Videofluoroscopy revealed typical tongue movements and slight residue in most infants, establishing it as an objective analysis method.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Developmental Biology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Normal infant swallowing mechanisms are not fully understood.
- Abnormalities in infant swallowing require a baseline understanding of typical function.
- Videofluoroscopy is a potential tool for objective assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the normal infant swallowing mechanism.
- To evaluate the utility of videofluoroscopy in analyzing infant swallows.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-one full-term infants (<6 months) underwent videofluoroscopy during upper GI examinations.
- Oral and pharyngeal swallowing stages were assessed.
- Inter-rater reliability for measurement data was evaluated.
Main Results:
- High inter-rater reliability was achieved for measurement data.
- Infant tongue movement involved a "stripping" motion before swallowing.
- Variability in suck and oral transit times correlated with sucks per swallow.
- Low incidence of nasopharyngeal reflux (9.5%) was observed.
- Most infants showed minor vallecular residue and cervical esophageal hesitation.
Conclusions:
- Videofluoroscopy offers an objective and systematic method for analyzing infant swallowing.
- The study provides normative data on infant oral and pharyngeal swallowing stages.
- Findings contribute to a better understanding of normal infant feeding dynamics.