Aspiration among Aspiration among People with People with Developmental Developmental DisabilitiesDisabilities

What is Aspiration?What is Aspiration?Aspiration is a type of swallowing Aspiration is a type of swallowing problem.problem.It happens when things such as It happens when things such as food, drink, medication, spit, or food, drink, medication, spit, or vomit get into your lungs.vomit get into your lungs.The only thing that should be in The only thing that should be in your lungs is air.your lungs is air.

““Going Down the Wrong Going Down the Wrong PipePipe””

In the back of your mouth In the back of your mouth there are two openings.there are two openings.One opening goes to the One opening goes to the esophagus (the esophagus (the ““food food pipepipe””) ) –– this leads to your this leads to your stomach.stomach.The other opening goes The other opening goes to the trachea (the to the trachea (the ““wind wind pipepipe””) ) –– this leads to your this leads to your lungs.lungs.

Aspiration is similar to Aspiration is similar to choking, but differentchoking, but different

Choking is when something is Choking is when something is blocking your wind pipe so you blocking your wind pipe so you cannot breath.cannot breath.

Aspiration is when anything except Aspiration is when anything except air goes down your wind pipe and air goes down your wind pipe and into your lungs.into your lungs.

It is not always easy to know It is not always easy to know when aspiration has when aspiration has happened to someone.happened to someone.

People usually know right away if People usually know right away if they are choking.they are choking.

Aspiration can often go unnoticed Aspiration can often go unnoticed until you become seriously ill.until you become seriously ill.

Aspiration can happen to Aspiration can happen to anybodyanybody……

But it happens more often to children, But it happens more often to children, elderly people, and people with some elderly people, and people with some types of disabilities.types of disabilities.These are people who may have more These are people who may have more trouble than usual with swallowing.trouble than usual with swallowing.

Aspiration is more likely Aspiration is more likely to happen to people with:to happen to people with:

Cerebral PalsyCerebral PalsyEpileptic seizuresEpileptic seizuresStrokeStrokeMultiple SclerosisMultiple SclerosisParkinsonParkinson’’s Diseases DiseasePoor motor skillsPoor motor skillsFrequent vomitingFrequent vomitingPoor eating skillsPoor eating skills

Impaired ability to Impaired ability to movemoveLong term use of Long term use of feeding tubesfeeding tubesA tracheostomy (tube A tracheostomy (tube through the neck into through the neck into the windpipe to help the windpipe to help with breathing)with breathing)A history of choking A history of choking or gagging on foodor gagging on food

There are common signs and There are common signs and symptoms of aspiration.symptoms of aspiration.

Coughing or gagging Coughing or gagging after mealsafter mealsDrooling or having food Drooling or having food or fluid leak out of the or fluid leak out of the nosenoseWheezingWheezingGurgling sound from Gurgling sound from throat or lungsthroat or lungsBreathing difficulty or Breathing difficulty or noisy breathingnoisy breathing

Having food left over in Having food left over in the mouth after the mouth after swallowingswallowingFeeling pain when Feeling pain when swallowingswallowingHaving to make unusual Having to make unusual head movements of the head movements of the head or neck when head or neck when swallowingswallowing

A person may become seriously ill before aspiration is recognized as a problem; so, it is important for families, consumers, and caregivers to watch for:

Are you concerned that you, or Are you concerned that you, or somebody you care for, may be somebody you care for, may be having trouble swallowing?having trouble swallowing?

It is important that It is important that you talk to your you talk to your doctor about the doctor about the risks, and about what risks, and about what you can do to stay you can do to stay safe.safe.If care is not taken, If care is not taken, aspiration can lead to aspiration can lead to malnutrition, weight malnutrition, weight loss, serious illness loss, serious illness or even death.or even death.

There are things you can do There are things you can do to protect yourself from to protect yourself from aspiration:aspiration:

•• Have trained staff Have trained staff assist with eatingassist with eating

•• Eat more frequent, Eat more frequent, but smaller mealsbut smaller meals

•• Slow pace of eating Slow pace of eating and decrease size of and decrease size of bitesbites

•• Eat while sitting upEat while sitting up•• Avoid using Avoid using

beverages to wash beverages to wash food downfood down

•• Avoid use of strawsAvoid use of straws•• Avoid lying down Avoid lying down

after mealsafter meals•• Avoid food and drink Avoid food and drink

before bedtimebefore bedtime

Your doctor can give you Your doctor can give you more recommendations on what more recommendations on what to do to stay safe and avoid to do to stay safe and avoid aspiration.aspiration.