Altered Consistencies of Liquid in the Treatment of Children With Dysphagia

• Published in: Infant, child & adolescent nutrition Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 215 - 220
• Main Authors: Peck, Katy, Rappaport, Kary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.08.2013
• Subjects: thickened liquids; oropharyngeal dysphagia; modified barium swallow study; dysphagia treatment; altered consistencies
• ISSN: 1941-4064; 1941-4072
• DOI: 10.1177/1941406413488797

Use of “thinned nectar” consistency, in addition to the standard dysphagia consistencies of nectar-thick, honey-thick, and pudding-thick liquids, has multiple clinical advantages and may contribute to better patient outcomes. At this time, there is no evidence-based research to support these added consistencies; rather, it is a clinical concept offering oral-motor and sensory opportunities using a graded approach while maintaining safety. This concept has been trialed by other experts and was discussed among colleagues during the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) annual conference held in November 2011. This article will briefly summarize how the use of altered consistencies may contribute to the following: improve the timing of the pharyngeal swallow through guided practice, reduce the likelihood of prolonged enteral feed requirements, allow infants and children with poor endurance to achieve goal volumes without fatigue, and provide therapist methods for discrete measurement of progress. Anecdotal reports will be used to highlight how this approach may be implemented as a therapy tool during treatment of infants and young children with dysphagia.