DEFINING THE SWALLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN WITH DYSPHAGIA

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Defining the swallow characteristics of infants and children with dysphagia – videofluoroscopy study analysis

• IRAS ID

  355693

• Contact name

  Alison McGregor

• Contact email

  a.mcgregor@imperial.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  There is an increase in the incidence of swallow difficulties in children. This is due to advances in medical care leading to the survival of children born premature and those who are medical vulnerable. Swallow difficulties in children can lead to serious health problems including breathing difficulties, chest infections and poor growth.
  Conditions caused by swallow difficulties can also affect parental and family well-being due to stress and financial costs because of frequent hospital appointments, hospital admissions and loss of income. There is an increase in swallow difficulties in neuro typical children. This group is particularly vulnerable as the symptoms of their swallow difficulties are often subtle and are either missed or incorrectly diagnosed which can result in children not being referred to the correct medical services for assessment and treatment. The gold standard test to assess swallow function is a videofluoroscopy swallow study (VFS) procedure. This test involves the use of special X-rays to assess swallow function. In comparison to research published on the swallow function of neuro atypical children, little is known about the typical swallow mechanics of neuro typical children with swallow difficulties. Understanding the faulty mechanics of these children’s swallow function is necessary to determine the cause of the swallow difficulty so the correct treatment plan can be prescribed. This study will use objective quantitative swallow measures to describe swallow function in neuro atypical and typical children, determine the likelihood that the measures can identify a risk of swallow difficulties and compare the swallow measures with parent reported symptoms. Children aged 0 – 7 years with swallow difficulties attending the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital will be included in the study which will be conducted over 24 months.

• REC name

  North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/NE/0140

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 Jul 2025

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion