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What is it about?
Feeding and swallowing disorders can lead to auditory problems in various ways. For example, when a child does not swallow frequently enough, swallowing difficulties may minimize natural ventilation of the middle ear due to automatic opening of the Eustachian tube during swallowing. Such poor ventilation can increase the potential of fluid accumulation, leading to middle ear infections. This study was designed to establish the prevalence of auditory problems in children with feeding and swallowing disorders.
Why is it important?
The study established a significantly higher prevalence of hearing problems in children with feeding and swallowing disorders compared with typically developing children. These findings suggest that inclusion of an audiologist on the interdisciplinary team is likely to improve overall interventional outcomes for children with feeding and swallowing disorders. For example, behavioral treatment approaches are often an important element of the treatment provided to children with feeding and swallowing disorders. Such approaches frequently include verbal instructions and reinforcements, and typical hearing is necessary for maximum benefit from such verbal input. In children with transient or permanent hearing loss, the audiologist can inform both parents and the interdisciplinary team about the hearing loss and the procedures for maximizing the efficiency of verbal input.