Understanding Feeding and Swallowing Disorders

A feeding disorder is defined as a delay in the development of eating and drinking skills and is characterized by the inability to gather and/or suck, chew or swallow food effectively. A swallowing disorder, also known as dysphagia, references any difficulties related to the management of saliva, the intake of medicines and the introduction, transfer and transport of food and liquid from the mouth into the stomach through the esophagus. The most common symptom of dysphagia is the inability to swallow solid food without the sensation of the food becoming “stuck” or regurgitation.

Causes of feeding and swallowing disorders include:

• Autism
• Neck and head abnormalities or muscle weakness in those areas
• Cerebral palsy, meningitis or other nervous system disorders
• Gastrointestinal conditions (e.g., reflux, "short gut" syndrome)
• Heart disease
• Low birth rate
• Cleft lip and/or palate
• Respiratory or airway difficulties
• Medications that may cause lethargy or decreased appetite
• Problems with parent-child interactions at meal times

Severe feeding and swallowing disorders may result in malnutrition, poor hydration and reduced respiratory health.

Treatments by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for a feeding disorder will consist of the development of a behavioral feeding program that focuses on learning a new behavior (i.e. learning to chew), practicing the new behaviors and completing the learned behavior with different foods in a variety of environments.

The SLP will make the diagnosis for a feeding or swallowing disorder after a review of symptoms and medical conditions, the strength and movement of the muscles involved in the swallowing process, observing eating and drinking behaviors and performing special tests as necessary. Treatments for swallowing disorders include recommendations for exercises and positions to improve swallowing and suggestions for foods and liquids with textures that are easier to swallow.

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How Diabetes is Connected to Hearing Loss

Diabetes can cause blurry vision, hunger, thirst and fatigue; a lesser known associated condition is hearing loss. In fact, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) found hearing loss to be about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those without the disease.

This study is alarming to many otolaryngologists and audiologists because there is no recommendation for hearing loss screenings in a diabetes care regimen. Awareness is critical in increasing screening and discovering diabetes patients who suffer from hearing loss. Many doctors fail to recommend a hearing test at the annual checkup of diabetes patients. It’s important for those with diabetes to take an active role in their health care and seek treatment for any associated conditions they may be at risk for.

"Hearing loss may be an under-recognized complication of diabetes,” senior author Catherine Cowie, Ph.D. said. “As diabetes becomes more common, the disease may become a more significant contributor to hearing loss. Our study found a strong and consistent link between hearing impairment and diabetes using a number of different outcomes."

The reason for this connection is not definitive, but some evidence is suggestive. The NIDCD study reports diabetes may lead to hearing loss by damaging the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear.

Afflicting nearly 21 million people in the United States, diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke and the most common cause of blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations in adults. Pre-diabetes, which causes no symptoms, affects about 54 million adults in the United States. This high incidence of pre-diabetes and the connection between dangerous associated conditions are encouraging many to evaluate their risk of developing diabetes. See your doctor if you think you might be pre-diabetic or if you suffer from diabetes and believe you may have the beginning stages of hearing loss.

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Are Allergies Hereditary?

Do you suffer from severe allergies? If so, you may be able to blame your parents (just this once). If just one of your parents has allergies, there’s a 50/50 chance yours were inherited. If both of your parents have the same allergy, those odds go up to about 75 percent.

Are Allergies Hereditary? 

Yes and no. Though allergies can be passed down from parent to child, they’re not always. And more amazingly, allergy-free parents can give birth to children who have severe allergies. So if allergies aren’t always inherited, how do you “get” them?

Scientists think a few other factors come into play when it comes to why someone has an allergy. In addition to genetics, your environment, air pollution levels, and diet all play a role in whether or not you’ll have allergies.

Most Common Allergies 

An allergy is really just your body’s immune system mistaking a harmless substance for a dangerous pathogen. When you eat, drink, smell, or touch something you’re allergic to, your body responds by attacking it, rather than letting it pass through (which is what it really should do).

The most common allergies are:

• Drug allergy 
• Food allergy
• Contact dermatitis
• Seasonal allergies 

Signs and Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction 

What makes allergies so interesting is that their severity ranges a lot from person to person. Two people who are allergic to the same thing, like almonds, could have completely different reactions once they come in contact with one. For example, one person could experience nothing more than itchy hands, while the other person’s throat could begin to close.

Most often, signs of an allergic reaction are:

• Trouble breathing 
• Wheezing 
• Sneezing 
• Coughing
• Skin irritation 

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Most Common Allergy Types

Your immune system has one of the most important jobs in your body — protecting you from bacteria and viruses. But what if your immune system works too hard? Ironically enough, that’s not a good thing. If your body mistakes everyday things like pollen, grass, or peanuts as foreign objects attacking your body, it responds by attacking back. When this happens, it’s called an allergic reaction.

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is an abnormal or damaging response by your immune system to a foreign substance. Essentially, it’s an unusual reaction to what we’d consider a normal thing.

Common Allergy Types

Though it’s technically possible to be allergic to anything, most people’s allergies fall into these four categories.

Food Allergy

Food allergies are very popular, affecting roughly 5 percent of the world population. What makes food allergies unique is that the severity of an attack varies wildly from person to person. Some people can have a reaction if they just smell something they’re allergic to, while others have to actually eat the food. Symptoms also range from mild (like a numb tongue) to severe (throat closure).

Drug Allergy 

People with a drug allergy experience symptoms regardless of if the medication comes in pill, liquid, or injection form. The most common reactions are skin irritations, like a rash, hives, itching, and swelling.

Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies are typically the ones you hear about the most often. The most common seasonal allergens are:

• Mold 
• Trees
• Grass
• Weeds 
• Pollen

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that’s caused by direct contact with something you’re allergic to. Unlike something like poison ivy (which affects everyone it touches) contact dermatitis is not contagious.

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