110: Pediatric Dysphagia: Hallmarks and Red Flags with Kaitlin Brown, SLPD, CCC-SLP
Have you had a pediatric patient with swallowing difficulties and during the evaluation they present with multiple diagnoses and symptoms? Starting with anatomy and physiology of the swallowing mechanism in pediatric patients (infants, toddlers, and children), this course prepares you to identify red flags and complete differential diagnosis of complex and multifaceted presentations of pediatric dysphagia.
Topics covered:
What is pediatric dysphagia and how does it differ from adult Dysphagia?
Anatomy & Physiology hallmarks and comparisons
Pediatric presentations of feeding & swallowing difficulties/What to look out for: red flags, symptoms, and more
Different diagnoses
Comparison of presentations across infants/toddlers/children
Case Study & Applications
Resources mentioned in the episode
insert headshot here
My name is Kaitlin Brown and I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist. I have been practicing for 6 years now. I started in the skilled nursing facilities and quickly gained confidence and knowledge in all-adult based swallowing patients. I was always interested in swallowing disorders throughout undergraduate and graduate school, but it wasn’t until my placement in a SNF as a graduate student that I gained a true appreciation for what all we do. I worked in the SNFs for 3 years, but began a part-time position at a pediatric therapy clinic in 2016. After leaving the SNF, I transitioned into a full-time position at the same private practice pediatric clinic in July 2017. From that point forward, I began receiving an influx of referrals for feeding and swallowing patients and, while I had some background knowledge and a strong foundation in adult swallowing disorders, I was essentially a beginner in the pediatric world. I began attending CEU courses, researching articles, trying different tools and bottles, and everything in between. As I gained more confidence, I found that I was receiving all feeding and swallowing patients, other therapists were coming to me with questions and I had officially found my niche. In February 2020, two of my colleagues, along with the help of an OT graduate level student, we researched, planned, and launched an intensive feeding program at our outpatient clinic. I recently finished my SLPD degree at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in December of 2020. I am hoping to teach at a university level, teach CEUs, and continue along my journey in educating fellow SLPs about pediatric swallowing disorders and treatment options. My husband and I live in North Georgia and just welcomed our first son in November 2020! We have two pups and enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors!
REVIEW the podcast
You’ll earn my undying gratitude by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts! Reviews help other SLPs find the podcast. Also, I love reading your feedback! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know your favorite part of the podcast. Malaho plenty!
