Pediatric Dysphagia: Evaluation and Management for Otolaryngologists

Purpose of Review The goal of this review is to understand normal swallow physiology in children and how that physiology can be disrupted, to give recommendations for evaluating dysphagia in children, and to summarize important etiologies of dysphagia that can be managed by otolaryngologists. Recent Findings Although prematurity and genetic syndromes predispose children to dysphagia, about ¼ of children referred to otolaryngologists for dysphagia are developmentally normal. Recent research has established that for children, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallow is less sensitive for aspiration compared to video fluoroscopic swallow study. Summary Pediatric dysphagia has become both more common and more commonly recognized as rates of survival of preterm and syndromic children have increased. More high-quality research is needed to confidently understand the role of ankyloglossia and frenotomy in dysphagia. Multidisciplinary clinics have shown good outcomes for pediatric patients with dysphagia.