Oral Motor and Swallowing Disorders
Oral motor and swallowing disorders involve difficulty with the strength, coordination, or function of the muscles used for eating, drinking, speech, and swallowing.
Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)
- Coughing or choking during meals
- Difficulty chewing foods
- Foods or liquids going into the airway
- Drooling or saliva management difficulties
- Limited food/texture variety
- Weight loss or failure to thrive
- Behavior during meals (avoiding foods, refusing to eat)
Oral Motor Difficulties
- Weak bite, chewing, or sucking strength
- Difficulty coordinating oral movements for speech
- Limited ability to move tongue or lips precisely
- Difficulty managing saliva
Causes
Oral motor and swallowing disorders can result from developmental delays, neurological conditions, structural differences, or feeding-related issues.
Treatment
Treatment focuses on improving strength and coordination through exercises, modifying food/liquid consistency, using compensatory strategies, and addressing feeding concerns to ensure safe and adequate nutrition.