Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)

Physical	Communication	Cognitive	Behavioural / Emotional

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing food or liquids) is one of the most common health challenges following a TBI. The nerve centres controlling swallowing within the brain may be damaged, or the person with the condition may have cognitive problems and no longer understand what food is or how to eat and swallow food. Dysphagia may result in choking and aspirating (inhaling) food into the lungs which can result in pneumonia.

Treatments for dysphagia include:

speech and language therapy to learn new swallowing techniques
changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow
alternative forms of feeding, such as tube feeding through the nose or stomach

In time most patients who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injury can regain their swallowing reflex.

"Too often children and young people with ABI are discharged from hospital without specialist brain support that they and their families need to overcome lifelong challenges"

Andrew Ross; former Chief Executive of the Children's Trust

"Healthy teens are better at identifying strategies to deal with barriers. KIDS WITH ABI'S CAN'T!"

Shari Wade; USA

"When someone has a brain injury, early access to local, specialist rehabilitation is crucial to ensure the maximum recovery and make significant savings to the state in health costs"

Headway; United Kingdom

"We are medical practitioners. The real experts are the parents. Over the last 35 years they have taught me everything I know"

Lucia Braga; Brazil

"Strength-based family intervention after pediatric ABI is essential. Parents need to be equipped with the skills to cope and advocate for the child."

Caron Gan; Canada

"When different organisations assess different aspects of a child's neuro-rehabilitation needs, everyone looks at things from a different perspective and have conflicting priorities"

Cathy Jonson; Rehab without Walls; United Kingdom.

"Our 10 year study proves that family-led home-based neuro-rehab interventions deliver the best outcomes for children and young people"

Lucia Braga; Brazil

"Pediatric neuro-rehabilitation cannot be delivered in isolation. The needs of the child have to be looked at both holistically and within the context of the family unit. Parents need to be empowered to be parents in post-acute pediatric neuro-rehabilitation following brain injury"

The Children's Trust; United Kingdom

"Thousands of children and young people living in the UK today without the help and support that can make a huge difference to their lives"

Dalton Leong; Chief Executive of the Children's Trust

"There are problems with getting people into neuro-rehab. Those most in need are often those most excluded due to a lack of socio-economic resources."

Vicki Anderson; Australia

OUR MISSION: To work to remove inequalities for children & young people affected by acquired brain injury; and provide effective support to their families that makes a real difference to their lives.