Moderate to Severe TBI
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Intervention for Moderate to Severe TBI
Dietary Considerations
When managing the diet of a child with swallowing difficulties, two major concerns arise: maintaining adequate nutrition and ensuring safety during oral feeding. The child's dietician will work closely with the occupational therapist, speech pathologist and primary physician to set up an appropriate diet and determine its advancement. Here are a few general guidelines to keep in mind:
- Generally speaking, a pureed diet (the consistency of mashed potatoes) is the safest for people who are suffering from severe swallowing difficulties. Semi-solid foods are easy to swallow, since they hold their shape in the mouth and stimulate swallowing.
- Liquids and solids should be fed separately, as the ability to coordinate chewing a solid while holding a liquid in the mouth is often difficult, if not impossible, early in the recovery process.
- Thicken liquids before feeding them to someone with a recent brain injury. Watery foods are often the most difficult to swallow and may cause problems with choking. Liquids that are high in fat or contain chocolate may be more difficult to thicken than other liquids. Follow the directions on the thickener product for optimal results.
- Generally, strong flavors, such as sweet, spicy, sour or salty tastes, stimulate swallowing. Bland flavors are less stimulating but allowable.
- Cold temperatures may stimulate the swallowing response in some individuals, though this has not been proven effective in all cases.
- Syringe feedings are strongly discouraged unless ordered by a physician. They should then be administered only by a trained individual using only small (5cc) syringes.