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monday is another swallow study
I am anxious and nervous! Monday is a follow-up swallow study for Aiden's surgery to repair his laryngeal cleft. I have to say I am not 100% optimistic. The swallow study right before the surgery showed weakness that is not related to the cleft. I just am hoping for some improvement- even if we can move from honey to nectar consistency that would be improvement....though really I would just love for him to be able to drink thin liquids without aspirating. Wish us luck! We meet with the surgeon for post-op appt right after the swallow study. I will update sometime Monday.
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Re: monday is another swallow study
good luck!
we're still on honey here after 3 swallow studies...likely starting VitalStim Therapy next month to help strengthen his muscles.
the move to nectar would be great progress for your son!! we'll be thinking of you guys on monday.
Thanks! What is vitalstim therapy? I have never heard of it. What is your LO on thickened liquids for? Mine has a laryngeal cleft and additional swallowing weakness (maybe related to his seizures?) The weakness not related to cleft was not present at 2 month swallow study. He started having seizures at 4 months...and his swallow study around 7 months showed additional weakness. I will have to look into vitalstim.
We're not 100% sure why LO can't swallow appropriately...among other issues at birth, he had a stroke and then had seizures right after birth until about day 5, they've since been controlled by meds (Keppra). His pedi and neuro think it may be a lingering neuro issue.
VitalStim is just a brandname for the procedure I think - it's marketed towards older folks who've had a stroke or have Parkinsons (on my brochure they are all 80 years old in the pics, LOL).
Basically, a trained SLP puts little electrodes on the neck during a feeding, which stimulate the muscles to help strengthen them. It's pretty intensive, 2-3x a week for at least a month, from what I know so far.
It was recommended after my son failed the 3rd swallow study. Infants are good candidates only if they don't show improvement, so if he had moved up to nectar, we wouldn't be doing this right now...since your LO has so far had additional weakness, it's possible he could be a candidate for this or something similar.
Here's the company's website:
www.vitalstimtherapy.com
Again, best of luck on Monday!!
Thanks! I googled it earlier and looked at the website. I was excited and even emailed his SLP and my bestfriend that is an SLP. But, then I read the part about who should not do it- which includes people with seizure disorders. Probably not a good candidate right now (his are not controlled right now- he is on neurontin.)