[tri-med] Re: [tri-family] aspirating?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tina Arbogast"
>>But everyone
> involved with Logan's care is refusing to allow him anything by mouth.
> It is common sense to me that since Logan didn't have anything by mouth
> for over a year of course he was going to aspirate.  He lost his reflex
> to shallow.  So I have been giving him things by mouth for a few months
> hoping that he will actually pass this test.

Tina,
Please, please be very careful with this. I strongly suggest that you work
with your therapist because it only takes one instance of aspiration to rob
you of Logan.

Logan wont totally loose his swallow because he is still swallowing his
saliva. That is the true swallowing reflex, eating food can be more of a
cognitive action than reflex. And there are safe ways of getting some
additional practice in but what is suitable for Logan is something that you
need to work with with his therapist - it really depends on what sort of
aspiration is happening. Many children do need a program to help them get
back to oral eating for many reasons - but stay safe with how you do it.

A lot of the improvement with swallowing really does come with time and
maturation. As their general overall tone improves and also their awareness
of their body the swallow also improves.

And a final word of caution - giving a child food when they have been
diagnosed as dysphagic and NPO can actually be considered child endangerment
and can be grounds for Children's Services stepping in.

I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere.
-- Unknown

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (8 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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