[Dysphagia] infant feeding question update

[mbuckie at dmc.org (Buckie,Marcia)]

Several weeks ago, I posted a question about my son (born 7 weeks premature, on the NICU 4 weeks, now is 19 weeks, corrected 12 weeks)

Thank you again for the various ideas and information you gave me to consider. I had him seen by an ENT who was recommended for his subspecialty in infant swallowing and airway issues. My son has since had a scintigram/gastric emptying test and has been diagnosed with reflux and started on Reglan (an anthistimine that speeds up gastric emptying time ) and I am already seeing results! 

Of course some of this is water under the bridge, but I cannot help but wonder why it has taken so long for this to be diagnosed. He was on a NICU for 4 weeks, and I repeatedly brought up his feeding issues to my pediatrician, who I think is a pretty good clinician ( I also have a 2 year old.)

Is this sometimes hard to pick up? I have decided (when I have time..HA) to write a letter to the NICU director suggesting that the pursue having a dysphagia clinician for consultation. I think that a little bit of observation, trying some different nipples, and
some education could have saved our little guy some suffering (and us!). There are contractual SLP services at this hospital and OT/PT services employed directly by the hospital. Is this still common...to have no dysphagia clinician in the NICU? This is suburban Metro Detroit, so I don't think access to staffing is the issue.     My husband occ. works on the NICU (pharmacist)  at another hospital, and he said NICU nurses can tend to be a territorial and wary breed when looking out for their little patients.

Anyway, my son slept 10 hours last night, so I am happily going off to see my geriatric patients!

Thanks

Marcia