Dysphagia, Swallow Study and Vitalstim

crystalite2004

Hi all,

I posted a while back about my DD's leg but now I have an unrelated question.

DD is supposed to begin Vitalstim therapy in two weeks and she will go in once a week until - well I'm not really sure when they'll stop.  I guess that's part of my question.  Does anyone have RL experience with Vitalstim therapy?  DD has improved from nectar to half nectar since birth. 

She is also still drinking from a bottle due to her dysphagia and I'm eager to get her drinking from a cup.  I was wondering what results I might expect.  Google just scares me.

Any advice and input is much appreciated!

lisachica

My son suffers with dysphasia as well. We did not do Vitalstim, but it did take him over 14 months to get off the bottle!  We still use nectar in all his cups. 

crystalite2004

DD is almost 17 months.  I was told she could drink from a sippy if she only took one swallow of liquid then a dry swallow in between.  Well, that's not happening.  She doesn't understand so I just keep her on the bottle to keep her safe.  How often does your DS have a swallow study?  DD has only had two.

lisachica

DS is almost 18 months. He has only had one swallow study but goes back for his second next week. They wanted us to only use an open cup with him but that was not going to work.   We still do a bottle at night. We found a sippy close to a bottle that seems to work for him now. It's a nuk. I'm hoping the swallow study next week will show improvement. It's a painful process! 

 

annibes

I am an SLP but I am not certified for Vitalstim. To be perfectly honest, I have only heard of people using it with adults and the research for that does not support that it is beneficial above and beyond regular swallow rehabilitation exercises. I am not current on any research involving pediatrics and Vitalstim. Be sure to ask your therapist about supporting literature/research studies and what the available evidence says about success rates. I'll look for more info and let you know if I find anything.

crystalite2004

annibes:

I am an SLP but I am not certified for Vitalstim. To be perfectly honest, I have only heard of people using it with adults and the research for that does not support that it is beneficial above and beyond regular swallow rehabilitation exercises. I am not current on any research involving pediatrics and Vitalstim. Be sure to ask your therapist about supporting literature/research studies and what the available evidence says about success rates. I'll look for more info and let you know if I find anything.

Thank you! That was pretty much what I was wondering. They haven't tried any other form of therapy and I really don't want to put her through that if we're not going to see a vast improvement.

crystalite2004

lisachica:

DS is almost 18 months. He has only had one swallow study but goes back for his second next week. They wanted us to only use an open cup with him but that was not going to work. nbsp;nbsp;We still do a bottle at night. We found a sippy close to a bottle that seems to work for him now. It's a nuk. I'm hoping the swallow study next week will show improvement. It's a painful process!nbsp;nbsp;

GL at the next study! I hope you get some good news.