Vital Stim Therapy for Dysphasia
A common and treatable condition called Dysphagia, happens when a person has difficulty swallowing. There are a number of reasons it may occur, particularly in children during development, and a speech therapist can help. The results of dysphagia can often lead to issues with healthy weight and overall growth, so it is important to understand how to identify it. Because Dysphagia can occur chronically (over time) or can also appear suddenly, be sure to check in with your medical provider if you have any concerns.
A speech therapist can assist in working with your child to regain swallow function. With Tilton’s Therapy for Tots, children can receive Vital Stim treatment through a certified therapist on our team. Over time, Vital Stim proves to be an innovative solution for patients at varying levels of severity.
What is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia refers to having difficulty swallowing, often chronically. It affects people for many different reasons and can be caused by many things, but with children, the development of any area could need strengthening or attention. The condition centers upon the muscles and training of the different muscle groups involved in swallowing. Often, the body needs to learn these processes again or needs help learning them for the first time.
There are three stages where a problem swallowing might occur:
Oral Preparatory—voluntary phase during which food or liquid is manipulated in the mouth to form a cohesive bolus—includes sucking liquids, manipulating soft boluses, and chewing solid food.
Oral Transit—voluntary phase that begins with the posterior propulsion of the bolus by the tongue and ends with the initiation of the pharyngeal swallow.
Pharyngeal—begins with the initiation of a voluntary pharyngeal swallow which in turn propels the bolus through the pharynx via involuntary peristaltic contraction of the pharyngeal constrictors.
Esophageal—involuntary phase during which the bolus is carried to the stomach through the process of esophageal peristalsis (Arvedson & Brodsky, 2002; Logemann, 1998).
Courtesy of asha.org
What are the Causes of Dysphagia?
Children will sometimes choke on food or get something stuck in their throat. This doesn’t indicate an issue alone, unless it happens more frequently. Chronic swallowing issues usually mean there is a need for specialist intervention. Some children are more likely to experience Dysphagia than others, particularly those with other conditions like GERD, dental problems, overbite, Down syndrome, a feeding tube, or similar issues that might affect the throat muscles or swallowing muscles. Health problems of these natures or developmental disabilities are more likely to have trouble swallowing and developing Dysphagia.
Symptoms of Dysphagia
There are many indications that a child might be experiencing trouble swallowing. Here are a few warning signs you can look for to determine if your child has Dysphagia:
They often choke on their food
They eat very slowly
Feeding leads to their body stiffening or tightening (in infants)
Liquid comes out of the nose during or after feeding (in infants)
Recurring respiratory infections
Frequent spit up or vomiting
Weight loss or underweight
Expressing a feeling of a “lump in the throat”
Treatment for Dysphagia
While Dysphagia is typically chronic, it can also happen or occur suddenly. It is important to help your child strengthen the muscles necessary for proper swallowing of their food to continue correct development throughout life. As with most development issues, the treatment of each case is individualized and depends upon the circumstances of the person.
Sometimes the issue can be an infection in the throat or something stuck in the throat, which requires immediate attention. If the issue does not stem from obstruction in the throat or illness in the throat, there are different therapeutic interventions that can help strengthen the muscles and sometimes cure chronic Dysphagia. A speech and language pathologist can help determine the right exercises and practices to put in place to strengthen swallow function.
Different approaches might involve feeding more solid food if liquids are causing the issues primarily, or sometimes when an infant has trouble swallowing milk and liquids, they will gain more control and muscle tone when the begin eating solid foods.
An innovative and effective approach to treating Dysphagia is through Vital Stim treatment. This treatment was approved by the USDFA in 2001 for Dysphagia and has a high rate of success in many clinical studies. This non-invasive treatment involves neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the area - usually the front of the throat and sometimes the cheeks, delivering tiny bursts of electricity through the muscles associated with swallow function. Usually the patient feels a tingling sensation much like feeling pins and needles on the skin. It is safe, effective, and in conjunction with other therapeutic intervention, can help treat Dysphagia.
Where to Find Vital Stim Treatment
While it is a fairly new treatment, Vital Stim treatment can be found through certified therapists or SLPs (speech language pathologists). Certification is necessary to safely and effectively administer this therapy. Tilton’s Therapy for Tots can provide Vital Stim therapy for children affected with Dysphagia through one of our certified speech language pathologists. Our recent feature on Kim Koch, SLP, helps parents get to know the person behind the therapy. Kim is certified in Vital Stim treatment - contact us to learn more about how to get started.
When to Get Assistance for Your Child
If you notice any of the symptoms indicating your child is having trouble swallowing, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Your pediatrician can help determine the cause of the issue, and whether therapeutic intervention would be helpful.
Difference Between Dysphagia & Dysphasia
People often confuse Dysphagia with Dysphasia, which is a common and understandable mistake. While they both involve speech therapy, Dysphasia involves brain function and the ability to understand speech and language. It is important to make this distinction because they sound very much the same when spoken.
Need more information or want to get started with a speech language pathologist? Contact the team at Tilton’s Therapy for Tots if you are in the Southern Nevada region. Our therapists practice mobile therapy in the natural environment, so they may be able to conveniently visit your home, school, daycare, or other facilities to administer therapy to your child.
Additional Resources:
https://childrensnational.org/visit/conditions-and-treatments/stomach-digestion-gi/dysphagia
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17305276
https://www.encompasshealth.com/inpatient-rehabilitation/irf-our-technology/vitalstim
https://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Clinical-Topics/Pediatric-Dysphagia/Overview/
