Katie Herlihy - Dysphagia

My name is Katie Herlihy and I am a specialist speech and language therapist working in the community.

Part of my job involves seeing children with dysphagia. Dysphagia describes eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.

Paediatric speech and language therapists support children who have dysphagia to eat, drink and swallow safely. Children born prematurely and those with a neurodisability are more likely to have dysphagia.

Speech and language therapists play a key role in the diagnosis of dysphagia. We can assess and identify possible causes of eating and drinking difficulties.

Mealtime observations enable us to assess the nature of these difficulties. We promote patient safety through modifying the texture of food and fluids, reducing the risk of aspiration (breathing in of food or fluid to the lungs) and choking.

We may also suggest different feeding equipment, positions or techniques to help make eating and drinking easier and safer.

We may request specialist assessments, such as a videofluoroscopy  swallow study. This is an x-ray that looks at the swallowing process. It can help to identify the reasons for the swallowing problem and to see if there are ways to keep swallowing safe, reducing the aspiration risk.

We work closely with a range of other professionals, including doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, consultants and dietitians.

I really enjoy my role as a speech and language therapist. It’s rewarding when you are able to help children with their eating and drinking and support parents and carers in understanding how to help make eating and drinking easier and safer for their child.