Proposals appropriate for submission to this topic area include typical and disordered pediatric feeding and swallowing from birth to 18 years old including research, prevention/screening, clinical and instrumental assessment, treatment approaches, and service delivery issues related to persons with pediatric feeding disorder and/or dysphagia. Interprofessional education and practice, and/or research that addresses the implementation of interprofessional competencies within practice models, and/or the evaluation of collaborative care outcomes specific for pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders should be included in this topic area as well.

This topic area also includes research on how systems, policies, and social determinants of health influence access, participation, and outcomes in pediatric feeding and swallowing. Proposals should highlight evidence-based, trauma-informed, and inclusive approaches that consider the family and community context and promote equitable care across different backgrounds, settings, and systems.

Research

• Translational, applied, or implementation research related to typical and atypical swallowing, feeding, aerodigestive function, and associated disorders in infants and children
• Outcomes evaluation/research related to typical and atypical feeding and swallowing in infants and children
• Outcomes research evaluating access, participation, and quality of life in pediatric feeding and swallowing
• Quantitative inquiries including, but not limited to, clinical guidelines, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, randomized-controlled trials, well-designed case-control/quasi-experimental studies, single-case designs, and patient reported outcomes (PRO) related to typical and atypical swallowing and feeding in infants and children
• Qualitative studies with appropriate rigor and design including, but not limited to, phenomenological, grounded theory, narrative, case study, ethnography, and patient reported outcomes (PRO) related to typical and atypical swallowing and feeding in infants and children
• Mixed methods research related to typical and atypical swallowing and feeding in infants and children
• Research related to evidence-based practices, models of service delivery, innovations in care, and integration of counseling adn trauma-informed principles
• Studies examining how systemic barriers, policy frameworks, or SDOH influence participation and access for children with feeding and swallowing needs

Professional Education: Supervisory Considerations

• Administrative, legislative, and regulatory issues related to dysphagia/pediatric feeding disorder in infants and children
• Ethical issues specific to social media utilization for practitioners to disseminate information to consumers and colleagues specific to management and treatment of dysphagia/pediatric feeding disorder in infants and children
• Technology and digital innovations as they relate to pediatric feeding and swallowing difficulties in infants and children (e.g., mobile applications, devices, software, and artificial intelligence)

Professional Education: Screening and Evaluation

• Ethical issues specific to screening and evaluation of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders in infants and children
• Typical swallowing/feeding physiology in infants and children
• Prevention/screening of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders in infants and children, including evidence-based, validated, and culturally appropriate tools
• Innovative technologies for the assessment of pediatric feeding and swallowing such as digital tools, sensors, artificial intelligence and telepractice approaches 
• Instrumental assessment of swallowing and feeding in infants and children
• Diagnosis of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders using interprofessional and evidence-based frameworks
• Systemic and policy-level considerations influencing access to assessment, including health equity and resource availability

Professional Education: Treatment Approaches and Service Delivery

• Ethical issues specific to treatment and service delivery of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Innovative technologies for the treatment of feeding and swallowing disorders in infants and children
• Management of pediatric feeding and swallowing in special populations (e.g., Congenital Heart Defect (CHD), medically complex with multiple etiologies/comorbidities, etc.)
• Management of neurogenic-based feeding and swallowing disorders in infants and children, (e.g.,Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy {HIE}, brain tumors, Chiari malformation)
• Management of non-malignant esophageal/gastrointestinal disorders associated with feeding and swallowing disorders
• Neurodiversity-responsive management of feeding and swallowing care in pediatric populations
• Orofacial myofunctional disorders as related to feeding and swallowing disorders
• Outcomes, efficacy, and effectiveness related to the treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Professional education issues related to treatment approaches and service delivery, including responsive feeding, family-centered practices, and trauma-informed care
• Integration of counseling, caregiver support, and SDOH-informed intervention planning to ensure equitable access and continuity of care
• Policy and systems perspectives addressing resource distribution and access in feeding and swallowing service delivery

Interprofessional Education: Screening and Evaluations

• Ethical issues specific to interprofessional and team-based screening and evaluations of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Interprofessional and team considerations in screening and evaluation, including caregiver perspectives and inclusion of families as team members
• Interprofessional education and collaboration across medical and allied health professions responsible for screening and evaluation of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Interprofessional education related to the roles and responsibilities of local education agency members responsible for screening and evaluations of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Innovative service delivery models including telepractice technology for equitable and accessible screening and evaluations
  Inclusion of cultural and systemic contexts influencing interprofessional evaluation practices

Interprofessional Education: Treatment Approaches and Service Delivery

• Ethical issues specific to interprofessional and team treatment and service delivery of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Interprofessional and team issues related to the management of treatment including caregiver and family perspectives as active collaborators of the team in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Interprofessional education related to the roles and responsibilities of medical and allied health members responsible for the treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Interprofessional education related to the roles and responsibilities of local education agency members responsible for the treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Innovative service delivery models for treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders through telepractice and community-based care
• Nutritional management/support for infants and children with feeding and swallowing needs
• Pharmacological, surgical, and other non-behavioral interventions for pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Palliative care and quality of life considerations in feeding and swallowing treatment
• Outcomes, efficacy, and effectiveness related to the interprofessional treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders
• Integration of counseling, family-centered support, and trauma-informed communication into collaborative care models
• Systemic and policy-level collaborations to promote equitable care across healthcare and educational systems

Related Topics

Proposals that include this topic but have a primary focus on:

• Normal swallowing and swallowing disorders in adults should be considered for submission to the Adult Swallowing topic area.
• Pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders as a result of craniofacial disorders should be considered for submission to the Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Disorders topic area.
• Speech disorders associated with motor-based disorders should be considered for submission to Speech Sound Disorders in Children or Motor Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan topic areas.
• Orofacial or oral sensorimotor components within treatment of pediatric feeding or swallowing disorders when impairment contributes to physiologic dysfunction; motor-based speech or non-swallowing oral movement patterns should be considered for submission to Motor Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan topic area.
• Tracheostomy and ventilator dependence in pediatrics with impacts on laryngeal and voice function should be considered for submission to the Voice and Upper Airway Practices and Considerations topic area.