Feeding and swallowing difficulties after surgery

Feeding and swallowing difficulties (called ‘dysphagia ’) can occur after surgery to the head and neck or other types of medical treatment.

Some children may already have had difficulty with swallowing before oncology treatment because of the size and location of their cancer or tumour.

Common feeding and swallowing issues after surgery

Children can experience a range of side effects after a surgery that may impact their ability to eat and/or swallow safely. These include:

• Weakness and/or incoordination of the muscles used for chewing and swallowing. This can also make your child feel tired during meals.
• Neurological and structural changes. These changes may impact the delivery of messages from the brain to coordinate the muscles used for swallowing.
• Swelling around the surgery site (particularly head and neck surgery) can impact a child’s strength and/or range of movement of their jaw, tongue, voice box and throat muscles.
• Pain when swallowing during to changes in structures or swelling.
• Difficulty protecting the airway during swallowing, causing food and drink to go down the wrong way to the lungs (aspiration). This can lead to chest infections.
• Changes to level of alertness – your child may be too drowsy to eat and drink safely.
• Reduced saliva production or thickening of saliva, which can cause discomfort and make managing dry food textures challenging.
• Sore throat caused by the tube inserted into your child’s throat so they can breathe safely during surgery. This can cause swelling, discomfort and/or pain when swallowing, coughing or speaking.

Dental care

Encourage your child to clean their teeth and use a mouth wash after eating and drinking. This prevents teeth decay developing and keeps the lining of the mouth feeling clean and comfortable. See your dentist or oncologist for further information.

How can a speech pathologist help your child?

A speech pathologist can assess your child’s feeding and swallowing and may recommend:

• Changes to the texture and consistency of foods and drinks your child consumes to make it easier for them swallow.
• Providing suggestions to keep your child’s mouth clean and healthy and assist with reducing any sticky / thick saliva in your child’s mouth and throat.
• Providing strategies and /or exercises to help make your child’s eating and drinking as safe and enjoyable as possible.

If you have concerns about your child’s feeding or swallowing, tell your child’s oncology team so they can make a referral. A speech pathologist may see you before, during or after your child’s treatment.

How can a speech pathologist help your child?

A speech pathologist can assess your child’s feeding and swallowing and may recommend:

• Changes to the texture and consistency of foods and drinks your child consumes to make it easier for them swallow.
• Providing suggestions to keep your child’s mouth clean and healthy and assist with reducing any sticky / thick saliva in your child’s mouth and throat.
• Providing strategies and /or exercises to help make your child’s eating and drinking as safe and enjoyable as possible.

If you have concerns about your child’s feeding or swallowing, tell your child’s oncology team so they can make a referral. A speech pathologist may see you before, during or after your child’s treatment.

Contact us

Speech Pathology Department
Queensland Children’s Hospital
t 07 3068 2375   e LCCH-SPEECH@health.qld.gov.au

Developed by Speech Pathology Department and Oncology Services Group, Queensland Children’s Hospital.  

Resource ID: FS329   Reviewed: January 2024

Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.