February 7, 2024

Aspiration

Aspiration refers to food or liquid entering the lungs during swallowing. As we chew and swallow foods, our muscles work together as an intricate system, ensuring that food travels safely from our mouth through our esophagus, while completely bypassing our airway.

WHAT IS ASPIRATION?

Aspiration refers to food or liquid entering the lungs during swallowing. As we chew and swallow foods, our muscles work together as an intricate system, ensuring that food travels safely from our mouth through our esophagus, while completely bypassing our airway. During each swallow, our airway closes off to prevent foods or liquid from entering. When the system does not properly function, food or liquid may enter into the airway (penetration), or even fall below the vocal folds and into the lungs (aspiration).

WHAT CAUSES ASPIRATION?

Aspiration is a common result of feeding and swallowing disorders, and occurs when the swallowing mechanism malfunctions, failing to protect the airway from food or liquid entering. Such malfunctions can be caused by a variety of conditions, including swallowing dysfunction, neurological disorders, structural abnormalities, and gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS EXPERIENCING ASPIRATION?

The following signs may indicate that your child is aspirating:

  • Coughing or gagging during feeding
  • Hoarse, breathy or gurgley vocal quality around or after meals
  • Reoccurring pneumonia or respiratory infections
  • Difficulty gaining weight
  • Refusal to eat food or liquids
  • Poor coordination of breathing during feeding
  • Lengthy feeding times

HOW CAN I HELP TREAT MY CHILD’S ASPIRATION?

Treatment for aspiration and other feeding and swallowing disorders are often addressed by a speech-language pathologist or an occupational therapist. If you have any concerns about your child’s feeding skills, it is best to seek professional assistance immediately. Treatment methods may vary, depending on the underlying etiology. Treatment may include dietary changes, medical intervention (e.g. medicine for reflux), and direct feeding therapy. Feeding therapy will often address the strength and coordination of muscle movements needed for safe and efficient feeding. Feeding therapy might also address seating and positioning to optimize feeding skills, modifying food textures and liquid thickness to allow for safe swallowing, and increase the tolerance of various foods and textures.

OUR APPROACH AT NORTH SHORE PEDIATRIC THERAPY FOR ASPIRATION

At North Shore Pediatric Therapy, our therapists address childhood feeding and swallowing disorders using a multidisciplinary approach to provide each child with skills needed to develop safe and successful feeding skills.

Download our Guide for Families

We know that choosing a local ABA facility can be a hard decision. We’ve created an informational guide to help you understand more about the questions you should be asking while meeting with different providers.

Although we talk about our services here, our highest goal is for you to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about picking a provider that is the best fit for your needs. You are making a decision that will impact the entire trajectory of your child’s life!
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The cover of the NSPT Guide for Families, which helps families to figure out the questions to ask when picking an ABA provider.

Testimonials

Success looks different for every child... But we bet we have a story that matches your child's needs. Like James, who started with us as non-speaking and lacking the ability to initiate and maintain social interactions. Today, he can speak complete sentences, clearly state his needs, and navigate social interactions with his friends!

Our infant daughter was in physical therapy with Anna Zahn for about five months.  Anna was consistent, patient, and wonderful with our daughter.  Anna was also clear in her communications with us as parents which helped us understand our daughter's progress and needs, as well as how we could help our daughter at home.  While we are proud that our daughter graduated PT, we will miss Anna's warmth and kindness.

Emily

I love this place! Chista is an amazing person, so sweet and kind and very professional in her work. All staff are very kind with children. I feel happy to find this place for my daughter. Thank you!!!

Maria Di Rita

I cannot say enough nice things about the staff! My son worked with Khadija as his ABA therapist and is finishing up this week with his OT, Sabrina. They were really instrumental in helping us navigate a new diagnosis. Both were so easy to approach with questions. From Leeann at the front desk to the RBTs (Alex, Rabbia, Molly, and many others), we always felt so welcomed. It seems like the staff genuinely enjoy their jobs, consistently offering feedback and suggestions on how to help my son.

Jennifer Peyer

We have been working with the amazing team at NSPT for many years. They have been essential in understanding and supporting our child. I recommend their services to anyone looking for their specific type of support.Posted to

Monica Terése Carranza

They are so sweet and kinds persons with professionalism and really worried about the kids and how help they to get new skills and moving forward with knowledge.

Alejandra M.

NSPT is fantastic! All of the staff are wonderful, accomodating, and make you feel welcome and comfortable. Alan is fantastic - he has helped our family tremendously and has such patience and purpose in everything he does.

Alex Ehrhardt

North Shore Pediatric Therapy has been amazing.  They have done a great job adjusting to the specific needs of my autistic child.

Matt Nakanishi

My 12 yr old son has a lovely support team in Robert (Social Work) and Lindsay (OT)! He gains so much from his sessions & I gain so much from the communication and brainstorming! Thanks!

Jennie Meyer

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