Prior History of Feeding-Swallowing Difficulties in Children With Language Impairment.
OBJECTIVE
This study updated and extended our previous investigation (Malas et al., 2015) of feeding-swallowing difficulties and concerns (FSCs) in children with language impairments (LI) by using more stringent inclusion criteria and targeting children earlier in the care delivery pathway.


METHODS
Retrospective analyses were performed on the clinical files of 29 children (average age: 60 months, SD = 9.0) diagnosed as having LI using standardized testing, nonstandardized testing and final speech-language pathologist judgment. The files of children born prematurely or with a history of anatomical, structural, neurodevelopmental, cognitive, sensory, motor, or speech disorders were excluded. Literature-based indicators were used to determine the prevalence of difficulties in sucking, food transition, food selectivity, and salivary control. Values were compared with the general population estimate of Lindberg et al. (1992).


RESULTS
A significantly higher percentage of histories of FSCs (48%) were found in the files of children with LI when compared with the population estimate (χ2 = 13.741, df = 1, p < .001). Difficulties in food transition (31%) and food selectivity (14%) were the most frequent. Data confirm and extend our previous findings and suggest that a previous history of FSCs may characterize children with LI early in their care delivery pathway.
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Kathy
K
Malas
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, CanadaCentre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Réadaptation-Institut Raymond-Dewar, Montréal, Québec, CanadaUniversité de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Natacha
N
Trudeau
Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Marie-Claude
MC
Giroux
Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Lisanne
L
Gauthier
Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Simone
S
Poulin
Université de Montréal, Québec, CanadaMcGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
David H
DH
McFarland
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic