Autism Therapy: swallowing

definition of swallowing: not yet defined.

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Chewing Gum as Treatment for Rumination in a Child with Autism
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, by Rhine, D., and Tarbox J., published in 2009, summarized Mar 30, 2010

Access to chewing gum may be a helpful treatment for rumination in children with autism.

Rumination involves bringing up food into the mouth that has been eaten, chewing the food again, and swallowing the food again. This study looked at the effects of chewing gum as a novel treatment for rumination in a 6-year-old boy with autism. The authors did note that they did not first find out the cause of the boy’s rumination (functional analysis). When the boy was chewing gum he had a very low rate of rumination. Chewing gum is cheap and easy to use in real life settings.


Bite Size and Texture Assessments to Prescribe Treatment for Severe Food Selectivity in Autism
Behavioral Interventions, by Sharp, WG, and Jaquess DL, published in 2009, summarized Nov 26, 2009

Children with autism who are very picky eaters may also have poor eating motor skills like chewing and swallowing.

Some children with autism may not have enough calories and vitamins and minerals if they are very picky about what they eat. Behavioral therapy, based on ABA therapy, may help children eat a broader range of foods. This case study described a 3 year-old boy who was eating only liquid food (PediaSure) given by a bulb syringe. He was not eating enough calories every day to grow. He would get upset when more food or other foods were given to him. He would not swallow food and sometimes gagged. The behavioral therapy plan involved slowly giving him new foods in this order: 1) less than a teaspoon per bite of 16 pureed foods; 2) slowly making the bite size larger; and 3) slowly increasing texture. The authors said that each child may have different problems, and the therapist may help figure out which part of eating the child may need help with.


The Neuropathology, Medical Management, and Dental Implications of Autism
Journal of the American Dental Association, by Friedlander, AH, Yagiela JA, Paterno VA, and Mahler ME, published in 2006, summarized Nov 23, 2006

Parents should communicate to dentists any drugs that have been prescribed to the child as the drugs may have orofacial side effects and/or may interact with any drugs prescribed by the dentist.

For example, risperidone and olanzapine may cause problems with speech, swallowing, and the use of retainers. Fluoxetine and sertraline may cause diarrhea, nausea, and possibly changes in the speed at which blood clots. In addition, fluoxetine and sertraline may interact with other drugs prescribed by the dentist including codeine, erythromycin, and clarithromycin. Carbamazepine and valproate may also have a negative effect on the ability of blood to clot. Clonidine may magnify the effects of any pain killers used during a dental procedure or in recovery from a procedure.


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Oral Motor Therapy Can Benefit Kids with Autism

Apr 1, 2011

Prakalathan Kelaver, a therapist from Singapore, finds that many children with autism have difficulties chewing and swallowing. This may make it even more difficult in developing good communication skills. He explains, “Many autistic children can speak but not clearly because therapists have not treated their oral area.” He spoke at the opening of Heart Springs Therapy Center in Jakarta, which provides services for children with autism and other developmental delays.

Read original article: Oral Motor Therapy Helps Children With Autism


Massachusetts Center Specializes in Feeding and Communication Therapies

Jul 9, 2009

South East Center, in New Bedford Massachusetts, provides many services for children with autism and others experiencing feeding, swallowing, and communication disorders. They provide evaluation and treatment with methods that include speech pathology, sensory integration, and applied behavior analysis (ABA). In addition to the center, South East has a mobile unit that can visit nursing homes and schools. The center is one of the first to use VitalStim Therapy, which "uses electrical stimulation to retrain the throat muscles." In addition, the center utilizes the Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing with Sensory Testing (FEESST) to see whether a patient is aspirating food when they swallow. In cases where feeding tubes are involved, South East Center works to wean children and adults from them.

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Clozapine: Food and Drug Administration Safety Labeling Change

Sep 15, 2008

Treatment with the atypical antipsychotic clozapine (FazaClo) may cause uncontrolled movements (tardive dyskinesia). Tardive dyskinesia is a series of uncontrolled movements such as sticking out the tongue, chewing or sucking motions, or making faces. Clozapine may also cause dystonia. Dystonia is a slow movement of a part of the body. In this case, the parts of the body most likely to have the movement are the neck, throat, and tongue. This may cause problems with swallowing and/or breathing. Dystonia is most common in younger children and males.

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Children's Treatment Network is New Delivery Model in Interventions for Disabilities

Jun 16, 2008

The Children's Treatment Network (CTN) in Ontario, provides a single point of contact for therapy interventions for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Rather than spending their days taking their children from one therapy to another, the CTN links over 40 health care, education, social services, and recreation facilities in order to provide a team approach to intervention and treatment. This model of a single delivery point begins with the Service Coordinator who helps the family best determine the needs of their child - from "speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and inclusive recreation services" to "paediatric developmental assessments, autism diagnostic assessments, specialty therapy services, aided augmentative and alternative communication, and feeding and swallowing clinics."

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