Feeding difficulties in children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Feeding is a complex act that requires integration between the central and peripheral nervous systems, gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary process, velopharyngeal mechanism, craniofacial and musculoskeletal structures. To become a pleasurable act for the child, it will depend on the sensory experiences lived or learned in the first months of life and the interaction with the environment and its caregivers. therefore, exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months and supplementation until the baby’s two years is extremely important to the child can go through periods of dietary changes without trauma and stress. Any interference in this process can generate impairment in the introduction and development of feeding, creating feeding difficulty. This is defined as any problem that can negatively influence how parents and caregivers provide food for the child, and its probable consequences are changes in the overall development, oral motor and psychosocial development, depending on the severity of the case. The speech therapist can intervene through broad and integrative approaches, aiming a safer and more effective diet, through the stimulation of the oral motor sensory system, improving chewing and promoting greater coordination between the suction, breathing and swallowing functions. Children with Down Syndrome, for having a specific genetic condition, have some clinical characteristics such as tongue protrusion, swallowing disorders, decreased muscle tone, gastroesophageal reflux, food intolerance, intestinal malabsorption, ogival palate, impaired motor coordination and other factors that can cause a delay in the development of the stomatognathic system, facilitating the appearance of feeding difficulties. Knowing that nutrition is an important factor for the healthy development of the child, the aim of this study is to present the data available in the literature about feeding difficulties in children with Down Syndrome.