Laryngopharyngeal sensory testing and assessment of airway protection in pediatric patients

Infant and pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders may result from a variety of diseases, including pneumonia, neurologic disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) technique has been successfully used for evaluation in adult and pediatric swallowing disorders. A recent study demonstrated that FEES with sensory testing can be incorporated into evaluation of pediatric cases with relative safety. As seen in adults, pediatric patients with an increased laryngopharyngeal sensory threshold (LPST) have a significantly higher likelihood of laryngeal reflux penetration and aspiration during a feeding assessment. Additionally, the study using sensory testing found a possible correlation between a history of GERD and an increased LPST. Thus, further examination using LPST testing in pediatric patients is recommended.