Swallow Studies

Little Men both had swallow studies today. Our awesome Speech Pathologist, Karen, set up the appointments and helped assist in them. I have to admit, I was SUPER nervous to do the swallow studies. Both guys have trouble swallowing liquids. K has a G/J tube for ALL liquids and he eats food by mouth. K. loves loves loves to eat! Food motivates both boys in their slowly progressing skills and movement.

K. has been getting over a particularly nasty virus - he's been so junky and has been vomiting and needing oxygen so I was even more nervous to do the swallow study today.

Karen met me in radiology and after our typical battles with admissions and consents, we finally were able to move forward with the study. Karen convinced me that even if K. aspirated all foods - it wouldn't mean he would never be able to eat again since he was sick his swallow wouldn't be the best but it would also be beneficial to know how to go forward with his feeding when he is sick.

(Sorry long story) Anyway. K went first and he did SO GOOD! He swallowed all the foods so well. He does have a delayed swallow - meaning he swallows when he moves the food to his esophagus rather than on the back of his tongue....(think I explained that right) Then we moved forward with testing him with Honey Thick liquids - really thick liquids basically! So with the help of Karen, we will move forward with introducing these thickened liquids into his diet. Obviously it won't replace the fluids he needs from his G/J, but its a start. For K. I feel that his chronic congestion is not from foods penetrating his airway. Good news...now if we can find WHY he is always congested/junky besides his laryngomalacia dx.

Mr. I. on the other hand, didnt do as well on his swallow study. He penetrated all liquids - which means all the liquids he drank penetrated his airway. He didn't aspirate them - the went in the airway and then he forced them back out - but its not the best scenario. Basically, he is at a higher risk of aspirating (which he has done in the past) But, we will work with him to drink with a straw which would be safer. While eating all his foods, he leaned forward a little bit before he swallowed, which aided in him safely swallowing all his foods. He did a great job with that and safely eats solids. (great news there!) If we can have him drinking from a straw, we think he will do better at not penetrating his airway and hopefully help with his congestion levels.

So long story....but glad we got the studies done and the boys did pretty well!