If your child has eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (EDS), they may be referred to the Paediatric Dysphagia Team within the Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy service.
Eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties can also be referred to as dysphagia. Paediatric means children and babies.
The service can support children and young people from birth to 16 years (or up to 19 years if attending a specials school) in the Dudley borough. Children and young people can be seen at various places, such as at their home, in clinics held at health centres, at Russells Hall Hospital and educational settings (e.g. nursery, school).
We also provide a service to the Neonatal Unit and Children’s Ward at Russells Hall Hospital, to support early feeding and communication skills.
We work closely with other health professionals and educational staff. We can provide advice and recommendations to support your child.
Speech and Language Therapists usually use the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) when giving advice on textures of foods. Information about IDDSI descriptors can be found here IDDSI - Home
You can make a referral to our team using the form found here: Dysphagia Referral Form
Extra Information / Resources
Developing Communication
- There are some helpful tips and advice for supporting children’s development on the Tiny Happy People Website: BBC Tiny Happy People
- Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists information on supporting infants, children and young people with feeding and swallowing difficulties: Infant Dysphagia Factsheet
Dummy Use
- Information on how and when to stop using dummies is available from Tiny Happy People: Dummies and weaning: How and when to stop dummy use - BBC Tiny Happy People
- A Parents Guide To Dummies
Selective Eating
You can find information and advice on selective eating on the Children’s Occupational Therapy webpage:
Weaning
- You can find information for feeding, bonding with your baby and weaning at Start for Life: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/
- Weaning advice is also available from the British Dietetic Association: Complementary feeding (weaning) - British Dietetic Association (BDA)
