This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Ng, Y.-t. Articles by Bodensteiner, J. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ng, Y.-t. Articles by Bodensteiner, J. B. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum Is Associated With Feeding Difficulties

Division of Pediatric Neurology Children's Health Center and the Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, y2ngCchw.edu

Colleen M. McCarthy, MS

Department of Speech Therapy, Childrens' Rehabilitative Services Clinic. Phoenix, AZ

Theodore J. Tarby, MD

Department of Pediatric Neurology Children's Rehabilitative Services Clinic. Phoenix, AZ

John B. Bodensteiner, MD

Division of Pediatric Neurology Children's Health Center and the Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ

Our objective was to characterize the common occurrence of feeding and swallowing disorders noticed by our speech therapy department among patients with agenesis of the corpus callosum. All patients with suspected or presumed agenesis of the corpus callosum undergoing therapy for feeding and/or swallowing disorders, including oral and/or pharyngeal dysphagia and oral-sensory disorder, were identified. Their brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies and charts were reviewed in detail. Seven patients with striking oral-motor and oral-sensory disorder met the criteria for agenesis of the corpus callosum. Particular difficulties noted include oral-sensory defensiveness in five of these seven patients, oral dysphagia/weakness in all seven patients, and pharyngeal dysphagia with risk of aspiration in three of these seven patients. The oral-motor weakness observed in all of the patients affected the strength and coordination necessary for functional oral-phase swallowing. We conclude that feeding and swallowing disorders are significant in children with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Although the pathophysiologic mechanism is not known, recognition of this phenomenon is important because early detection and intervention can facilitate functional feeding and swallowing patterns earlier in these patients, therefore avoiding the adverse and more severe disorders that can arise when dysphagias and/or oral-sensory disorder persist over extended periods of time. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:443-446).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 19, No. 6, 443-446 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/088307380401900609


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?