01894caa a2200193   4500008004100000022001400041100002900055245007100084260000900155270004600164270004700210300001300257490002200270520128100292700002001573700002101593773004801614856003801662210629s9999    xx            000 0 und d  a1365-2788  aMalavika Anakkathil Anil 0aFeeding and swallowing difficulties in children with Down syndrome  c2019  aAll India Institute of Speech and Hearing  aManipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)  a992-1014  vVolume 63 Issue 8  aBackground The anatomical and physiological characteristics such as neuromotor coordination impairments and craniofacial and structural abnormalities frequently interfere with the acquisition of effective oral‐motor skills which can in turn result in the development of potential feeding problems and swallowing dysfunction. The present study was undertaken with the aim of assessing the feeding and swallowing problems, if any, in children with Down syndrome in the age range of 2–7 years. Methods A questionnaire was formulated and administered on 17 children with Down syndrome (10 females and 7 males) and 47 typically developing children (20 females and 27 males). Results The present study revealed that feeding difficulties were predominantly present in children with Down syndrome. These difficulties were found in all the three phases of swallow and were greatest for solids followed by liquids. They also had issues with physical, functional and emotional aspects of feeding. Further, the children with Down syndrome exhibited poor orosensorimotor abilities which could have lead to the difficulties in feeding. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of including feeding assessment in the evaluation protocol of infants and children with Down syndrome.  aSrushti Shabnam  aSwapna Narayanan  aJournal of Intellectual Disability Research  uhttps://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12617