Treatment for Paediatric Swallowing Difficulties
Addressing Pediatric Dysphagia with tailored evaluations, expert therapies, comprehensive parent training, and holistic care collaboration.
Swallowing is a complex process that involves the coordination of muscles and nerves to move food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach safely. For some children, this process can be challenging, leading to what is known as dysphagia, or swallowing difficulties. These issues can affect a child’s ability to eat and drink safely, impacting their nutrition, growth, and overall well-being.
Navigating the world of paediatric eating and drinking challenges can be daunting, but our seasoned therapists are adept in managing a wide spectrum of related difficulties. From assisting with the basics like establishing breastfeeding to addressing more complex neurodevelopmental or behavioural feeding issues, we offer a holistic approach tailored to each child’s unique needs.
By using specialised techniques and therapies, our service goes beyond just treatment; we emphasise collaboration with other professionals involved in your child’s care. By blending proven therapeutic methods with thorough risk evaluations, we ensure the best possible outcomes for your child.
Enabling Healthy Growth
Challenges Faced by Children with Dysphagia
Paediatric Swallowing Difficulties, commonly referred to as Dysphagia, denote a condition where children have difficulty swallowing food, liquids, or saliva. This condition can manifest at different stages of the swallowing process.
Oral Phase: This involves chewing and preparing food, or moving it around in the mouth and directing it towards the back of the throat. Difficulties here might be seen in children who can’t keep food or liquid in their mouth or have trouble chewing.
Pharyngeal Phase: Once the food is ready to swallow, the next step is for it to pass through the throat and into the esophagus. Children with problems in this phase might cough or choke when eating.
Esophageal Phase: This phase involves the food moving down the esophagus and into the stomach. Issues here might involve food getting stuck or coming back up.
These swallowing difficulties in children can result from a variety of factors, including anatomical anomalies, neurological disorders, developmental delays, and conditions like cerebral palsy or premature birth. Symptoms can vary and might include coughing or choking during meals, prolonged feeding times, weight loss, or recurrent lung infections.
Early detection and treatment, often involving a multi-disciplinary team approach that includes a speech therapist, are crucial to ensure adequate nutrition, growth, and overall well-being of the child.
Our Treatments
Navigating the challenges of swallowing difficulties requires a multifaceted approach, tailored to each individual’s unique needs. At Unlocking Language, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive suite of treatments to ensure safe and efficient swallowing for our clients. From muscle-strengthening programs to cutting-edge diagnostic tools, our specialized interventions are designed with the utmost care and precision. Explore our range of therapies below, each meticulously crafted to address and alleviate swallowing concerns.
Swallow Training: A program designed to strengthen the muscles essential for swallowing, addressing issues from severe swallowing difficulty to minor muscle challenges.
Dietary Adjustments: Tailoring food and drink textures to enhance swallow safety and minimise aspiration risks, which may involve thickening liquids.
Videofluoroscopy: A dynamic X-ray providing insight into your swallowing mechanism, highlighting potential improvements to make swallowing both safer and more comfortable.
Oral Sensitivity Management: For those experiencing heightened oral sensitivity hindering their swallow, we use techniques like Facial Oral Tract Technique and Talk Tools to diminish this sensitivity.
Madeleine Swan
Emma Hudson
Lydia Chong
Abirami Singalingam
Principal Speech and Language Therapist
Madeleine Swan
She/Her
Madeleine graduated from City University in 2011 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy (Distinction) and has been working at Unlocking Language since 2015.
As the Clinical Lead for mainstream schools, Madeleine manages a team of therapists, supporting their clinical development and ensuring a high-quality service. She also oversees our company supervision policy. Madeleine specialises in working with students aged 3-11 who attend mainstream schools, providing assessments and interventions for students with speech sound disorders, Developmental Language Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder amongst other diagnoses. She also delivers training and works closely with other members of staff to support the communication development of targeted students.
Madeleine has furthered her knowledge by attending additional training on Makaton, VERVE, Michael Palin PCI and school-aged therapy approaches; Word Aware, Shape Coding, Attention Autism, the evidence base for Developmental Language Disorder and Supervision.
She has experience with a wide range of therapy approaches, including PECS, Intensive Interaction, SCERTS, colorful semantics, and Talkabout.
Her favorite thing about working at UL is ‘My colleagues! I love working with such a supportive, diverse, and talented group of people’.
When she’s not working, you can find Madeleine reading, watching independent films, and doing pen drawing.
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Emma Hudson
She/Her
Emma started working at Unlocking Language in 2015 after graduating from City University London with a Postgraduate Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy. Prior to this, she studied Psychology (BSc) at the University of Leeds.
She is particularly interested in early years speech and language development and specializes in working with complex needs and ASD in toddlers, as well as primary-aged children with DLD, speech sound disorders, and ASD. As a clinical lead, she also supervises a team of therapists.
Emma’s training includes: Shape-Coding, Word Aware, Lego Therapy, Selective Mutism, Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), Phonological Awareness, Attention Autism and Cued Articulation. She is experienced with a variety of approaches, such as PECS, Parent Child Interaction, Intensive Interaction, Colourful Semantics, Zones of Regulation, Talkabout, and Makaton.
Emma believes in the importance of early assessment and intervention to help support children with speech, language, and communication needs so they can reach their full potential. She collaborates closely with parents to guarantee the use of parent-child interaction techniques in the home to enhance language development.
On working at UL: ‘I like working with a range of different clients and families and helping support them to reach their potential.’
When she’s not working, you can find Emma meeting friends and family, reading, swimming, or traveling to new places.
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Lydia Chong
She/Her
Lydia completed a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Reading and has been working as a therapist since 2016. Her particular professional interests lie in teletherapy and the secondary setting, working with children with ASD and SEMH. She is a member of the Shuri Network – the first NHS and care network of BAME women in digital health.
Lydia focuses on delivering therapy that is fun and functional to clients. She believes in empowering individuals and maximizing their potential. She has experience with various approaches, such as PECS and Makaton.
On working at UL: ‘Everyone is really friendly and helpful with clinical questions.’
When she’s not working, you can find Lydia walking, traveling, or playing the piano or ukulele.
Languages:English, Mandarin, Malay, knowledge of Cantonese
Phone:0207 536 9299
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Abirami Singalingam
She/Her
Abi undertook her BA at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, and she studied for her MA in Pennsylvania, USA. Before moving to London in 2020, she worked for various school districts in Chicago and across Maryland.
Her areas of interest and expertise include working with school-age children and a variety of speech and language difficulties.
Abi is also a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Her favorite thing about working at UL is ‘how everyone is so supportive and what an amazing resource everyone is.’
When she’s not working, you can find Abi reading fantasy books, traveling, and eating Thai and Sri Lankan food
Your questions answered
Can’t find the answer to your question? Give us a call, our customer service team would love to help.
What causes swallowing difficulties in children?
Swallowing difficulties can result from various factors, including developmental delays, neurological conditions, or structural abnormalities. A thorough assessment by a speech-language pathologist can help determine the underlying cause.
How can a speech-language pathologist help my child?
Speech-language pathologists assess and treat swallowing difficulties through exercises, strategies, and modifications to improve safe swallowing. They work closely with families to ensure that therapy is effective and supportive.
What should I expect during an assessment?
During an assessment, the therapist will observe your child’s eating and drinking habits, evaluate their swallowing function, and discuss any concerns you may have. This helps in developing a tailored treatment plan.
Is therapy for dysphagia a long-term process?
The duration of therapy varies depending on the child’s specific needs and progress. Our therapists will work with you to develop a plan that best supports your child’s development and health.
Speak to us today about your Child's SLT needs
If you have concerns about your child’s swallowing abilities, we invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment. Our dedicated team is here to provide the support and guidance your child needs to thrive. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your child overcome swallowing difficulties.
