Feeding and swallowing disorders can occur when children have difficulty swallowing during any of the three phases of swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, and esophogeal). The main focus of feeding and swallowing in Richland 2 is for safety, nutrition, and hydration of our students with feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Dysphagia means a problem with swallowing and is a term commonly used when referring to children with difficulty eating, drinking, or swallowing. Children with dysphagia may have difficulty:

• chewing foods

• swallowing certain types of foods/liquids

• keeping foods in their mouth when eating

• refuse certain textures/types of foods

• overall muscle weakness making eating difficult, etc.