Prevalence of Dysphagia in People With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review

Dysphagia (feeding and swallowing disorder) is associated with serious health complications and psychosocial sequelae. This review summarizes international research relating to the prevalence of dysphagia in people with intellectual disability. Studies published from 1990 to July 2016 were identified using Medline, Cinahl, PsycINFO, Web of Science, email requests, and cross-citations. Twenty studies were identified. Dysphagia in people with intellectual disability appears to be associated with more severe levels of intellectual disability, comorbid cerebral palsy, and motor impairments. However, further research with representative samples of people with intellectual disability using adequate methods of assessment are required in order to provide more precise prevalence estimates and clarify factors that may be associated with dysphagia in this population.