Neurodevelopmental presentation of dysphagia.

Successful oral feeding and growth of infants and children are dependent not only on functional deglutition, but also on a broad range of neurodevelopmental skills involving sensory systems, cognition/communication, and gross and fine motor behaviors. Children with neurogenic dysphagia often have a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental impairments that affect these streams of development. Speech/language pathologists, as members of interdisciplinary teams, can provide unique contributions to the early diagnosis and management of neurogenic dysphagia in childhood.