Infant — sucking and oral feeding disorders >

Para que o seu bebé redescubra o prazer de comer

Que perturbações pode ter o seu bebé?

Evaluation of sucking disorders in infants, French-speaking Switzerland

Perturbações de oralidade em bebés

Também conhecidas como perturbações alimentares ou disfagia pediátrica, and can present with various manifestations and be caused by several factors.

Here are some important points to know on the subject:

  • Definition: Oral feeding disorders in babies refer to difficulties in coordinating the movements required for feeding and swallowing. This can affect how a baby eats, drinks and swallows.
  • Symptoms: Symptoms can vary from child to child, but may include difficulties with sucking, swallowing, chewing or maintaining adequate nutrition. Some babies may have frequent reflux or gagging when being fed.
  • Causes: The causes of oral feeding disorders can be varied. They may include medical factors, such as anatomical problems like cleft lip or palate, neurological conditions, developmental issues, weak sucking reflexes, aversive reactions to food, or sensory difficulties. They may also be due to the presence of a restrictive tongue-tie, an upper lip-tie, or sometimes even cheek or lower lip frenula.

Avaliação e diagnóstico:

During our assessment — whether during a visit from your midwife or your lactation consultant, at your paediatrician's, or during an appointment with your osteopath — we begin with an evaluation of the sucking problem, the presence of any restrictive oral frenulum or lip-tie, and its impact on the baby and the mother.

Um plano de cuidados multidisciplinar é então estabelecido according to the problem: breastfeeding support, exercises for parents to improve tongue function and relieve tension, osteopathic treatment, speech-language therapy, etc.

Following these inter-professional discussions, if the frenulum is truly problematic, a referral to an ENT specialist or dental surgeon is considered in order to release the frenulum — this is known as a frenectomy. The baby or child is then reviewed by the various professionals to continue follow-up care.

It is important to note that each case of oral feeding disorder is unique, and treatment must be tailored to the specific needs of each child in collaboration with a multidisciplinary medical team.

Diagnosis of sucking and oral feeding disorders, French-speaking Switzerland

Para que a sua criança floresça

Thriving baby after management of sucking disorders, French-speaking Switzerland
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