Integrated & Community Services - Paediatric Dysphagia - Eating and Drinking Difficulties

Your child has been referred to the Specialist Speech and Language Team

This may have been by another professional such as your Health Visitor, GP, consultant or school nurse.

Why has my child been referred?

We assess and provide advice to parents and families of children aged between 0 to 18 years that have eating and drinking difficulties. This is called dysphagia.

We aim to make an appointment to see your child within 6 weeks of receiving the referral. This will be sooner if your child’s difficulties need urgent attention.

The children we support may have one or more of the following physical difficulties:

• Swallowing problems
• Chewing/biting difficulties due to weak and/or uncoordinated muscles in the mouth
• Poor sucking skills

Some examples of symptoms that may prompt a referral to our team include:

• Frequent coughing during and/or after food or drink
• Choking or excessive gagging
• Aspiration i.e. when food and/or drink enters the airway
• Recurrent chest infections
• Difficulties coordinating skills for sucking, chewing and swallowing

Please see your health professional (health visitor, school nurse or GP) for a referral to the appropriate service if your child experiences difficulty with:

• Trying new textures
• Weaning
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux
• Food aversion (i.e fear of food) - behavioural and/or sensory responses
• Or has sensory difficulties in relation to a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Condition

Please be aware that specialist speech and language therapists do not assess for tongue tie unless there is an impact on the child's eating and drinking skills described on the referral.

What will the Specialist Speech and Language Therapy team do?

We will work closely with you and other health professionals (e.g. paediatrician, health visiting team, school nurse, GP). We may invite you to a feeding clinic appointment, see your child in an educational setting or visit you at home to assess your child’s feeding skills.

We offer specialist advice and specific management strategies that you can use to ensure safety around swallowing and help your child to develop or improve their feeding skills.

We may need to refer your child on to other health professionals for support or further assessment. This may include a Videofluroscopy (a special type of x-ray used to assess swallowing).

We may need to make a referral to physiotherapy for posture, occupational therapy for seating and equipment and any sensory needs, and a dietician if we have concerns around intake requirements of food and fluids.

Consent

We will ensure that we have your consent before we assess or provide treatment for your child and will keep you fully informed about their treatment and progress.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) acts on behalf of service users, families, and carers to negotiate prompt solutions and help bring about changes in the way that services are developed.

As well as providing a confidential advice and support service, PALS will help guide you through the different services available from the NHS.

Telephone: 0161 778 5665
Email: pals@nca.nhs.uk
Alternatively, you can write to: PALS, Unit 7/8 Whitney Court, Southlink Business Park, Hamilton St, Oldham. OL4 1DB.

Comments and complaints

We want to learn from comments and complaints about our services. If you have any, please speak with a member of staff. Every effort will be made to resolve any concerns and complaining will not cause any difficulties in your care with us.
Telephone: 0161 778 5665
E-mail: complaintsoffice.trust@nca.nhs.uk

Alternatively, you can write to: Complaints Department, Unit 7/8 Whitney Court, Southlink Business Park, Hamilton St, Oldham.
OL4 1DB.

Contact us

Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Team
Werneth Primary Care Centre
Featherstall Road South
Oldham
OL9 7AY
Tel: 0161 206 1442