EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF FEEDING DISORDERS IN CHILDHOOD - PediEAT SCREENING
Keywords:
feeding disorders, dysphagia, PediEATAbstract
A feeding disorder is a condition characterized by an inability to safely consume food or fluids and is associated with medical, nutritional and/or psychosocial dysfunction. Feeding disorders may or may not include swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), characterized by difficulties in processing and/or passing liquids and/or food through the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and stomach. All of these difficulties are directly related to children’s speech development—breathing, phonation, articulation and resonance.
Objective: This report provides an overview of standardized screening instruments used to diagnose feeding disorders in childhood. The analysis aims to identify a tool that covers a wide age range and includes subscales to assess various aspects of feeding.
Methodology: A review of the scientific literature published over the past 10 years describing the diagnosis of feeding disorders in children was conducted. The databases used were: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO, Sage, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, Google Scholar and BASE.
Results: The analyzed data reveal a variety of tools used to prevent eating disorders. The study concludes that the PediEAT tool fully meets the initial criteria. The primary focus is on a comprehensive screening assessment comprising four scales: physiological symptoms, problematic eating behavior, selective/restricted eating and oral processing.
Conclusions: PediEAT is a tool suitable for speech-language pathology practice that improves the diagnostic process and enables evidence-based recommendations for follow-up medical consultation.
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