Feeding-swallowing difficulties in children later diagnosed with language impairment

AimThe aim of this retrospective study was to assess the relationship between feeding-swallowing difficulties (FSDs) and later language impairments in children. MethodRetrospective analyses were carried out using the clinical files of 82 children with language impairments from a large urban rehabilitation center. Two subgroups of these children were established: children with motor impairments, referred to as the language impairment with motor impairment (LI+MI') subgroup (n=23, mean age 4y 6mo, SD 8.7mo), and children without motor impairments, referred to as the language impairment without motor impairment (LI-MI') subgroup (n=59, mean age 5y, SD 8mo). The prevalence of food selectivity, difficulties in sucking, salivary control issues, and food transition difficulties was extracted. Data were compared with a general population estimate of FSDs. ResultsFSDs were documented in 62% of the clinical files; 87% of these files were from the LI+MI subgroup and 53% were from the LI-MI subgroup. Among each subgroup of children with language impairments, the prevalence of FSDs was significantly higher than the general population estimate of 20% (LI+MI:(2)=55.965, df=1, p<0.001; LI-MI: (2) =32.807, df=1, p<0.001). Furthermore, the prevalence of FSDs was significantly higher in children with language impairments and motor impairments than in those with language impairments but without motor impairments ((2)=6.936, df=1, p<0.01). Both food transition difficulties ((2)=14.99, df=1, p<0.001) and salivary control issues ((2)=5.02, df=1, p=0.02) were more frequent in the LI+MI subgroup than in the LI-MI subgroup. Combinations of two or more FSDs were also more frequent in the LI+MI subgroup than in the LI-MI subgroup ((2)=4.19, df=1, p=0.04). InterpretationsThese findings suggest that early FSDs may be used as a potential marker for language impairment. However, larger prospective studies are needed to confirm this. What this paper adds <list list-type="bulleted" id="dmcn12749-list-0001"> First study to explore the relationship between feeding-swallowing difficulties (FSDs) and language impairment in children with and without motor impairments. Reveals that the prevalence of FSDs in both subgroups of children is higher than a general population estimate. Findings also suggested that combinations of FSD may profile language impairment children with motor impairment. Sets the stage for future prospective studies to assess FSDs as clinical indicators of later language impairment. This article is commented on by Lefton-Greif on pages 795-796 of this issue.