EP 33: Expert insights in pediatric feeding and swallowing with Joan Arvedson – Part 1

Drinking is one of the very first activities that newborns engage in, not only shaping their daily routine but also fostering crucial communication and interaction between them and their caregivers. Developing skills such as sucking, swallowing, and coordinating these with breathing is vital, but what happens when a baby struggles with these essential tasks?

We were thrilled to speak with Prof. Joan Arvedson, a leading expert in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. In our conversation, she explains the intricacies of sensorimotor learning, neuroplasticity, and the developmental processes underlying sucking and swallowing in infants.

We also talk about some fundamental principles that we as clinicians should consider—principles that apply not just to the pediatric population, but to adults as well—making this episode valuable for anyone in the field.

Literature and resources that we discuss

• Arvedson (2023). Complementary feeding in the first year of life: Choking and gagging; what about nutrition?
• Goday et al. (2019). Pediatric Feeding Disorder: Consensus Definition and Conceptual Framework
• Lefton-Greif et al. (2024). Global State of the Art and Science of Childhood Dysphagia: Similarities and Disparities in Burden.
• NICU Recommended Standards website
• Feeding Matters website