Problems Encountered When Feeding the Severly Disabled

There are four problems that may occur in individuals with sever disabilities when feeding is taking place. These four problems, chin retraction, tongue retraction, chin thrust, and tongue thrust, all take place in the dental region of the face, and they all involve the muscles of that same region. Each one presents its own difficulties; however, sometimes the may occur simultaneously. The basis for the inner feeding team is the jaw, or chin. It controls …

…the tongue retracts. Most individuals compensate for it by pressing the tongue against the middle of the hard pallet. This “correction” then creates a problem in the airway. Sucking and swallowing are difficult due to the blocked airway and tongue up against pallet. Although none of these problems can have instantaneous solutions, many can be corrected over time with the proper training. Muscle exercises and toning techniques can be used to help alleviate the problems.