Swallowing Problems

Treatment of Children

Mayo Clinic specialists in Minnesota treat children, from infants to adolescents, with swallowing problems. A multidisciplinary team of specialists treats a wide range of swallowing problems. Pediatric specialists at Mayo's Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital in Rochester, a state-of-the-art, family-friendly hospital within Saint Marys Hospital, treat children and adolescents. Gastroenterologists and otorhinolaryngologists (ENT doctors) at Mayo Clinic in Florida treat patients 16 years of age and older.

Diagnosis

Parents are often the first to notice a swallowing problem and bring their child to a pediatrician. Depending on the swallowing problem, the pediatrician will refer patients to the proper specialists. Symptoms of swallowing problems specific to children include difficulty breast - feeding, poor weight gain, increased fussiness or crying when eating, or reacting to problems by stiffening the body or refusing to eat. Young patients are usually diagnosed with the same tests used for adults. See diagnosis.

Treatment

In general, treatment options for children with swallowing problems are the same as for adults. Children with swallowing problems may be at risk of malnutrition or dehydration, which can affect their growth. Factors unique to swallowing problems in children include prematurity, autism or cleft lip or palate. These conditions must be treated along with the swallowing problems. Speech-language pathologists make recommendations about how to improve a child's feeding and swallowing. Read more about treatment.

Appointments

For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 507-538-3270 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, or complete an online appointment request form.