On Friday 01 August 2003 12:04 am, Marita wrote:
> A complaint I heard a few times was the focus on "audible swallowing".  I
> stressed watching the jaw excursion instead.

I have been intrigued by past Lactnet posts about how jaw excursion doesn't
always correlate with milk transfer.  An alternative for deaf mothers might
be gentle palpation.  With each swallow, the larynx rises within the pharynx
and then returns to its resting position.

I use palpation every workday to assess swallowing with my adult patients, but
have never tried it with a neonate.  I can imagine that it might be tricky
but I thought I'd throw it out there for consideration.  Has anyone used this
approach?

Jamie, speech pathologist, volunteer breastfeeding supporter, and mom to three

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