To ensure that feeding is safe and pleasurable for your child and yourself, ensure that the child is:

1. Awake and alert during feeding

2. Optimally positioned during feeding

Optimal positioning means:

• There is no hyperextension of the neck

• Child is well supported in chair

3. Prompt for swallows

4. As a parent/caregiver, provide pacing and rest breaks as recommended by your speech therapist

5. As a parent/caregiver, feed the child slowly

6. Only offer the child food and drink that is deemed safe by your speech therapist. Consult your speech therapist for:

• Suitable exercises to improve swallowing

• Appropriate food and/or fluid consistency for feeding and

• Appropriate mode of feeding

Aspiration refers to saliva, food and/or drink entering the airway during the process of swallowing. This may be due to swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). It may happen with or without obvious signs such as coughing. It can result in aspiration pneumonia.

 Caution

1. STOP feeding if the child coughs persistently, chokes or experiences fatigue

2. No oral feeding if the child feels unwell

3. No hyperextension of the child's neck

4. Do not force feed the child

Communication can be difficult and frustrating for you and your child. These strategies may be useful for communicating with your child who has difficulties getting his/her message across effectively.

1. Be face-to-face with your child when communicating

2. Keep communication short and simple by using and emphasising keywords

3. Slow down

4. Augment your communication by using visuals (e.g. pictures), objects and/or gestures

5. Wait for your child’s response. Give your child time to initiate communication and/or take their turn in conversation. Resist trying 6. to finish off their sentences.

6. Affirm and praise attempts to communicate

7. Engage in typical conversation and/or activities whenever possible
   Involve your child in decision making

8. Continue to provide language stimulation and teach your child new vocabulary

9. Offer 2-3 choices/helping words

10. Model (or act out) what can be communicated

Ref: K21

Check out other articles on difficulty swallowing (dysphagia):

How Speech Therapy Can Help Dysphagia and More

Dysphagia in Seniors: Signs, Causes and Complications

Tips to Cope with Dysphagia (Swallowing Difficulty)