Eating and swallowing disorders and their consequences in preschool children

Feeding is essential for sustaining life and ensuring healthy development and growth. In addition, feeding is a social activity and provides pleasure, so problems in this area can have a significant impact on quality of life. Feeding problems in childhood can also have an impact on emotional and behavioral development, growth and weight gain as well as family dynamics. In the chapter discussing theoretical background, we first describe the anatomical structures involved in feeding and swallowing and the development of feeding, which is important for understanding the origins of feeding difficulties. Next, we introduce feeding disorders. We have focused mainly on behavioral feeding disorders, but have also described motor feeding disorders. We described the difference between feeding disorders, picky eating and food neophobia. We also presented how parents and their attitudes towards food influence their child's feeding habits. Diagnosis of eating disorders is essential for quality treatment planning. We have described anamnesis, assessment of feeding and oral structures and various imaging examinations that contribute to a quality diagnosis. We have also outlined behavioral and oralmotor interventions for feeding and swallowing disorders. In closing we describe some of the possible consequences of feeding and swallowing disorders. We focused on family stress, nutrient intake, weight gain, health consequences and behavioral, emotional and social problems. We also presented research findings linking eating disorders to speech and language disorders. Our study aimed to obtain data on the prevalence of feeding and swallowing disorders in preschool children. We were interested in the impact of feeding disorders on the child and whether they can be linked to different risk factors, such as prematurity, problems during pregnancy and the late introduction of different tastes or textures of food. The study also provides insight into whether the potential consequences of feeding disorders are already visible in the preschool period and whether a link can be found between feeding disorders and speech and language disorders. A questionnaire was designed for this purpose, which was forwarded to the parents of the children attending kindergarten with the help of kindergarten advisory departments. Feeding and swallowing problems were present in 36 percent of children, sensory food sensitivities in 7 percent of children and selective eaters represented 48 percent of the sample. We found a statistical association between prematurity and feeding and swallowing disorders. A longer period of uncontrollable salivation leakage is also associated with feeding and swallowing disorders. We did not find a statistical correlation with other risk factors and consequences