Tongue thrust swallowing in severely physically disabled children

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Patients with severe physical and mental disabilities often exhibit atypical feeding patterns.
• Understanding these patterns is crucial for developing effective feeding interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the videofluoroscopic characteristics of a tongue thrust feeding pattern in patients with severe disabilities.
• To explore the potential developmental link between infant suckle patterns and this observed feeding behavior.

Main Methods:

• Videofluoroscopic assessment of feeding patterns in five patients with severe physical and mental disabilities.
• Detailed analysis of tongue and mandibular movements during bolus propulsion and swallowing.

Main Results:

• The observed feeding pattern involved coordinated tongue and mandibular movements propelling the bolus.
• Anterior and lateral spillage of the insufficiently formed bolus occurred.
• Swallowing reflex was accompanied by tongue thrust, with residual bolus often remaining in the vallecula and pyriform sinuses.

Conclusions:

• The tongue thrust feeding pattern in these patients may represent a persistent and modified infant suckle pattern.
• This finding highlights the importance of early developmental feeding patterns in understanding later oral motor dysfunction.