Feeding and speech difficulties in typical congenital Nemaline Myopathy

Feeding and Swallowing Outcomes in Children Who Use Long-Term Ventilation: A Scoping Review

The last two decades have seen increasing use of long-term ventilation (LTV) as an intervention in childhood. Children who use LTV have many risk factors for feeding and swallowing difficulties, including their underlying respiratory and/or neurological etiology, long hospitalizations, medical interventions, and limited exposure to oral feeding experiences. This review aimed to answer two questions: 1) 'What specific swallowing and feeding characteristics do these children experience?'; and 2) 'What impacts do these swallowing and feeding characteristics have on health status and quality of life?'. Texts were identified across bibliographic databases, reference lists, and grey literature. Studies were analyzed according to ventilation, feeding and swallowing, assessment and intervention, and quality of life parameters. Overall, 1919 papers were screened, with 31 papers included in the final data extraction process. A range of feeding and swallowing characteristics were observed, including oral secretion management difficulties, oral aversion, swallowing difficulties, and clinical signs of aspiration. Non-oral feeding was found to be the primary feeding method used. Little information on health status and quality of life was reported in scoping review texts. Children with LTV needs present with a range of feeding and swallowing concerns, and non-oral feeding is common. Further research is needed to understand the feeding and swallowing journey of this population. This will assist in future service planning and delivery, and in turn contribute to improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

'They don't know what to do with our children': Experiences and views on feeding and swallowing from parents of children who use long-term ventilation

Increasing use of paediatric long-term ventilation (LTV) has been reported around the world over the last two decades and it is anticipated that use of this medical intervention will continue to grow. Research has shown that children who use LTV have risk factors for feeding and swallowing difficulties which result in long-term reliance on non-oral feeding methods. This Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) activity explored experiences of parents of children with LTV on their children's feeding and swallowing journeys. Individual and group interviews with seven parents were conducted. Interview data was then analysed using content analysis. Families discussed a range of themes including impacts on their family, facilitators and barriers to feeding and swallowing journeys, speech and language therapy (SLT) support, their family's healthcare journey in relation to quality of life and future directions for research. This study highlighted potential key areas to explore when identifying ways to improve SLT care and research in feeding and swallowing for children who use LTV.

A Rare Case Report of Dental and Craniofacial Manifestations of Nemaline Myopathy

Any congenital muscular disorder can cause severe dental and craniofacial deformity. The clinicians must understand the aetiology of this muscular disorder to plan the treatment for this condition. Currently, there is limited data available in the literature on the dental manifestation of nemaline myopathy. Nemaline myopathy is a type of rare congenital muscular disorder characterized by severe dental and craniofacial deformity. This case report describes the dental and craniofacial manifestations of such diseases in an eight-year-old child who visited the unit of pediatric and preventive dentistry with a chief complaint of irregular placement of teeth and inability to close the mouth.

Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Pediatric Neuromuscular Diseases: An Overview

Feeding and swallowing problems in infants and children have a great impact on health and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of recognized feeding and swallowing problems in different groups of children with neuromuscular diseases, based on relevant literature and expert opinion, and to propose recommendations for the assessment and treatment of these problems. Almost all pediatric neuromuscular diseases are accompanied by feeding and swallowing problems during the different phases of deglutition, problems that give rise to a wide variety of signs and symptoms, which emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive feeding and swallowing assessment by a speech and language therapist.

Consensus statement on standard of care for congenital myopathies

Recent progress in scientific research has facilitated accurate genetic and neuropathological diagnosis of congenital myopathies. However, given their relatively low incidence, congenital myopathies remain unfamiliar to the majority of care providers, and the levels of patient care are extremely variable. This consensus statement aims to provide care guidelines for congenital myopathies. The International Standard of Care Committee for Congenital Myopathies worked through frequent e-mail correspondences, periodic conference calls, 2 rounds of online surveys, and a 3-day workshop to achieve a consensus for diagnostic and clinical care recommendations. The committee includes 59 members from 10 medical disciplines. They are organized into 5 working groups: genetics/diagnosis, neurology, pulmonology, gastroenterology/nutrition/speech/oral care, and orthopedics/rehabilitation. In each care area the authors summarize the committee's recommendations for symptom assessments and therapeutic interventions. It is the committee's goal that through these recommendations, patients with congenital myopathies will receive optimal care and improve their disease outcome.