Global State of the Art and Science of Childhood Dysphagia: Similarities and Disparities in Burden.
Maureen A Lefton-Greif, Joan C Arvedson, Daniele Farneti and 2 others
PMID 38503935WHAT IT FOUND
This review maps the rising burden of childhood dysphagia, noting it affects 2-4% of US children under 5 and up to 99% of those with cerebral palsy.
It argues that care must be multidisciplinary and tailored to the whole child, not just the swallow.
Key findings
01Pediatric feeding disorders affect 2-4% of the general population of children under 5 in the US, rising to 20-33% in children with complex chronic conditions.
02The prevalence of dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy ranges from 19% to 99%, and silent aspiration is common.
03Multidisciplinary aerodigestive care has improved clinical outcomes, lowered the cost of care, and reduced caregiver burden compared with separate subspecialty visits.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review, not a systematic review, so the selection of studies may be biased and is not reproducible. Global prevalence data are described as unclear and hampered by inconsistent terminology and limited resources in low-income countries. The 'results' are a synthesis of existing literature rather than new primary data. The patient example is hypothetical and does not represent a real case series.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The work was supported by the NIH.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the prevalence ranges (e.g., 19-99% for CP) as precise diagnostic thresholds. These figures reflect the variability in how dysphagia is defined and measured across different studies, not a single consistent clinical reality.