Disorders of Feeding and Swallowing in Infants and Children: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Abstract

It seems amazing how many infants and children seem spontaneously to progress through the stages of feeding from suckle feeding through mature feeding, which includes biting and chewing, without difficulty or concern! Some, however, develop aspiration, failure to thrive, and feeding problems beyond the scope of the primary care physician. Disorders of Feeding and Swallowing in Infants and Children: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment assists medical professionals by reviewing the literature and research foundations; defining the clinical approaches that physicians, nutritionists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists use in assessments and treatment; and encouraging better communication using multidisciplinary teams. The editors state that this text is by no means exhaustive and refer to more complete reviews of embryology or esophageal motility. They provide a comprehensive review with the appropriate use of tables, diagrams, and black-and-white pictures. The melding of these disciplines is not easy. Each discipline focuses a bit differently on