JOURNAL OF THE CZECH PEDIATRIC SOCIETY AND THE SLOVAK PEDIATRIC SOCIETY

Čes-slov Pediat 2026, 81(2):81-87 | DOI: 10.55095/CSPediatrie2026/011

Sucking and swallowing disorders in infants

Barbora Černá1, Hana Nestávalová2, Barbora Jírová1, Kristýna Zárubová1, Barbora Obermannová1
1 Pediatrická klinika, 2. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, Fakultní nemocnice Motol a Homolka, Praha
2 Neurologická klinika, 2. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, Fakultní nemocnice Motol a Homolka, Praha

Disorders of sucking and swallowing in infants represent a significant clinical problem with potentially serious consequences for the overall development of the child. The skills necessary for oral feeding begin to develop prenatally and continue to mature during the first months of life, when coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing is crucial. The causes of these disorders include anat omical, neurological, and other systemic factors. Clinical manifestations of sucking and swallowing disorders range from severe aspiration episodes to subtle, less specific findings such as poor weight gain. Diagnosis requires multidisciplinary collaboration and includes a detailed medical history, physical examination, and functional assessment of motor, oromotor and sensory skills (clinical evaluation by a speech and swallowing therapist, and possibly a videofluoroscopic swallow study or flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) and nutrition. Early identification of these disorders and appropriate intervention are essential for achieving safe and effective oral feeding.

Keywords: swallowing disorders, dysphagia, sucking, feeding difficulties, infant

Accepted: February 5, 2026; Published: March 1, 2026  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Černá B, Nestávalová H, Jírová B, Zárubová K, Obermannová B. Sucking and swallowing disorders in infants. Ces-slov Pediat. 2026;81(2):81-87. doi: 10.55095/CSPediatrie2026/011.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Bromwich M, Cohen AP, Miller CK, Willging JP. Pediatric dysphagia. In: Bluestone CD, Simons JP, Healy GB. Pediatric otolaryngology. 5th ed. People's Medical Publishing House 2014: 1311-1322.
    2. Lau C, Schanler RJ. Oral feeding in premature infants: advantage of a self-paced milk flow. Acta Paediatr 2000; 89(4): 453-459. Go to original source...
    3. Durdilová L. Dysfagie u dětí. Listy klinické logopedie 2017; 8(2): 52-57. Go to original source...
    4. Červinková, K. Oral intake in preterm children. Listy klinické logopedie 2024; 8(2): 14-20. Go to original source...
    5. Omari TI, Miki K, Fraser R, et al. Esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter function in healthy premature infants. Gastroenterology 1995; 109(6): 1757-1764. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Jadcherla SR, Stoner E, Gupta A, et al. Evaluation and management of neonatal dysphagia: impact of pharyngoesophageal motility studies and multidisciplinary feeding strategy. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2009; 48(2): 186-190. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Lau C, Smith EO, Schanler RJ. Coordination of suck-swallow and swallow-respiration in preterm infants. Acta Paediatr 2003; 92(6): 721-727. Go to original source...
    8. Lau C. Development of suck and swallow mechanisms in infants. Ann Nutr Metab 2015; 66(5): 7-14. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Palmer MM, Crawley K, Blanco IA. Neonatal oral-motor assessment scale: A reliability study. J Perinatol 1993; 13(1): 28-35.
    10. Jadcherla SR, Gupta A, Stoner E, et al. Pharyngeal swallowing: Defining pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter relationships in human neonates. J Pediatr 2007; 151: 597-603. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Arvedson JC, Brodsky L. Pediatric swallowing and feeding: Assessment and management. Albany, NY: Singular/Thomson Learning 2002.
    12. Tedla M, Chrobok V (eds.). Poruchy polykání: Poruchy prehĺtania. Havlíčkův Brod: Tobiáš 2009.
    13. Dodrill P, Gosa MM. Pediatric dysphagia: Physiology, assessment and management. Ann Nutr Metab 2015; 66(5): 24-31. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    14. Koenig JS, Davies AM, Thach BT. Coordination of breathing, sucking, and swallowing during bottle feedings in human infants. J Appl Physiol 1990; 69: 1623-1629. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    15. Osborn AJ, de Alarcon A, Tabangin ME, et al. Swallowing function after laryngeal cleft repair: More than just fixing the cleft. Laryngoscope 2014; 124(8): 1965-1970. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Cassina M, Ruol M, Pertile R, et al. Prevalence, characteristics, and survival of children with esophageal atresia: A 32-year population-based study including 1,417,724 consecutive newborns. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 2016; 106: 542-549. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. White DR, Giambra BK, Hopkin RJ, et al. Aspiration in children with CHARGE syndrome. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2005; 69(9): 1205-1210. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    18. Jabbour J, Martin T, Beste D, Robey T. Pediatric vocal fold immobility: Natural history and the need for long-term follow-up. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014; 140(5): 428-433. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Leonard RJ, Kendall KA, Johnson R, McKenzie S. Swallowing in myotonic muscular dystrophy: a videofluoroscopic study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001; 82(7): 979-984. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    20. Willig TN, Paulus J, Lacau Saint Guily J, et al. Swallowing problems in neuromuscular disorders. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1994; 75: 1175-1181. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    21. Sheikh S, Allen E, Shell R, et al. Chronic aspiration without gastroesophageal reflux as a cause of chronic respiratory symptoms in neurologically normal infants. Chest 2001; 120(4): 1190-1195. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Šatanková J, Dubská A, Kuchařová M, et al. Poruchy krmení a polykání u dětí: Příručka pro praxi. 1st ed. Praha: ČSORLCHHK ČLS JEP 2024.
    23. Weir K, McMahon S, Barry L, et al. Clinical signs and symptoms of oropharyngeal aspiration and dysphagia in children. Eur Respir J 2009; 33(3): 604-610. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Duncan DR, Mitchell PD, Larson K, Rosen RL. Presenting signs and symptoms do not predict aspiration risk in children. J Pediatr 2018; 201: 141-146. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    25. Arvedson JC. Assessment of pediatric dysphagia and feeding disorders: Clinical and instrumental approaches. Dev Disabil Res Rev 2008; 14(2): 118-127. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    26. Červenková, B. Responzivní způsob vedení příjmu potravy u předčasně narozených dětí v logopedickém náhledu. Disertační práce. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Pedagogická fakulta 2021.
    27. Ludwig SM, Waitzman KA. Changing feeding documentation to feflect infant-driven feeding practice. Newborn Infant Nurs Rev 2007; 7(3): 155-160. Go to original source...
    28. Thoyre SM, Shaker CS, Pridham KF. The early feeding skills assessment for preterm infants. Neonatal Netw 2005; 24(3): 7-16. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Lau C, Smith EO. A novel approach to assess oral feeding skills of preterm infants. Neonatology 2011; 100(1): 64-70. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Ross ES, Philbin MK. Supporting oral feeding in fragile infants: An evidence-based method for quality bottle-feedings of preterm, ill, and fragile infants. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2011; 25(4): 349-357. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    31. Als H. A synactive model of neonatal behavioral organization: Framework for the assessment of neurobehavioral development in the premature infant and for support of infants and parents in the neonatal intensive care environment. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr 1986; 6(3-4): 3-55. Go to original source...
    32. Fujinaga CI, de Moraes SA, Zamberlan-Amorim NE, et al. Clinical validation of the preterm oral feeding readiness assessment scale. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 2013; 21: 140-145. Erratum in: Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 2014; 22(5): 883. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    33. Kleinerová M. Logopedická diagnostika poruch polykání a obtíží spojených s krmením v dětském věku - zahraniční přístupy dostupné v ČR. Listy klinické logopedie 2021; 11(2): 12-15. Go to original source...
    34. Rosenbek JC, Robbins JA, Roecker EB, et al. A penetration-aspiration scale. Dysphagia 1996; 11(2): 93-98. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    35. Arvedson JC, Lefton-Greif MA. Pediatric videofluoroscopic swallow studies: A professional manual with caregivers guidelines. San Antonio: Communication Skill Builders 1998.
    36. Zeinerová L, Černý M, Dědková J, et al. Videofluoroskopie polykání (VFSS): Příručka pro praxi. Praha: ČSORLCHHK ČLS JEP 2020.
    37. Šatanková J, Dědková J, Černý M, et al. Možnosti diagnostiky poruch polykání u dětí - videofluoroskopie. Vox Pediatrie 2017; 1(17): 21-23. Go to original source...
    38. Černý M, Zeinerová L, Šatanková J, Stránská D. Flexibilní endoskopické vyšetření polykání (FEES): Příručka pro praxi. Praha: ČSORLCHHK ČLS JEP 2020.
    39. Lau C, Alagugurusamy R, Schanler R, et al. Characterization of the development stages of sucking in preterm infants during bottle feeding. Acta Paediatrica 2000; 89(7): 846-852. Go to original source...
    40. Lessen BS, Morello CA, Williams LJ. Establishing intervention fidelity of an oral motor intervention for preterm infants. Neonatal Netw 2015; 34(2): 72-82. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    41. Červenková B. The effect of neurological music therapy on oral intake in preterm children. Soc Integr Educ 2021; 315-327. Go to original source...
    42. Propp R, Gill PJ, Marcus S, et al. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for children with dysphagia: A systematic review. BMJ Open 2022; 12(3): e055124. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    43. Mier RJ, Bachrach SJ, Lakin RC, et al. Treatment of sialorrhea with glycopyrrolate: A double-blind, dose-ranging study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2000; 154(12): 1214-1219. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    44. Pena AH, Cahill AM, Gonzalez L, et al. Botulinum toxin A injection of salivary glands in children with drooling and chronic aspiration. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2009; 20(3): 368-373. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    45. Manrique D, Sato J. Salivary gland surgery for control of chronic pulmonary aspiration in children with cerebral palsy. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2009; 20(3): 368-373. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content