If you have noticed that your child needs help when it comes to swallowing their food and water, you may be concerned about what could happen. Thoughts of the damage caused to their throat, as well as choking and weight loss because individuals are less inclined to eat, are scary. However, there are some steps you can take to help alleviate their symptoms.
1. Identify the underlying cause
If you want to identify the cause, you need to go to your doctor as soon as possible. It might be that your child is eating too fast or not chewing their food as they should, or it might be that they have dysphagia. The treatment for dysphagia depends entirely on its cause. Mild dysphagia could be triggered by something like gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), a common condition which causes stomach acid to leak into the esophagus, for example. If GERD is to blame, then medication could help decrease stomach acid. In some cases, surgery might be recommended.
No matter how mild or infrequently you notice your child having difficulty, the advice is always to seek out medical help.
2. Alter your family’s diet
This is universal regardless of the cause. Some foods will simply be impossible to swallow, and most people will, therefore, need to cut food into much smaller pieces to eat it. In some cases, you might even have to blend their food, taking it as a smoothie. The outlook will be different for each individual. Some might struggle with solid foods, others with liquids. If the latter is true, consider using a thickening agent like Simply Thick. Adding a colorless, tasteless, and odorless thickener to liquids makes them much easier to swallow.
Softer foods are often preferable to harder alternatives, and some find it easier to consume many small meals per day rather than one or two large ones. Find out what works for your child and adjust their diet accordingly. It is always a good idea to avoid anything acidic or eating late at night, as this will play havoc with the condition. To make it as easy as possible for your child, ensure that the entire family slightly alters their diet in some way too. Whether this is putting a stop to late-night eating or blending your food too, it can help make the transition smoother.
3. Avoid hot food
For some, dysphagia is about more than just difficulty swallowing. Trying to eat can be painful. This has lasting physiological effects and can lead to a range of eating disorders. Avoiding food becomes a vicious cycle. If your child loses weight, their physical health could decline. Even if skipping meals seems like a short-term solution, poor physical health will only make the underlying condition worse.
If swallowing causes you or your child pain, avoid hot meals. Let food cool to room temperature or (if possible) eat it cold. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference this makes, especially if the foods are then mashed. Not all food tastes great cold, so this might require a few dietary changes, but it will alleviate some of the pain.
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