Eating, Drinking and Swallowing

The Speech and Language Therapy Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Team at Sheffield Children’s offers a service to help children who have eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. 

We are based in the early years, mainstream schools, and specialist schools speech and language therapy teams. There is also a team of therapists who see children when they are in hospital. 

Swallowing safety 

If a child or young person is coughing and spluttering when eating and drinking, they have had repeated chest infections or there are concerns regarding the safety of their swallow, please refer to the eating, drinking and swallowing team using the online referral form. 

• Warning signs whilst eating and drinking – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk) – a video for schools, nurseries, and care settings  
• Meal and snack time red flags – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)   

Advice for parents and carers 

For advice on how to support your child’s eating and drinking skills please see:  

Eating, drinking and swallowing advice for parents and carers – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 

Advice for professionals 

You should access this advice alongside the support of your child’s health visitor or education setting before making a referral for specialist speech and language therapy eating, drinking and swallowing support. 

Eating, drinking and swallowing advice for professionals – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 

Our videofluoroscopy service 

A videofluoroscopy is a moving X-ray of children swallowing. Children will only be referred for this if their consultant thinks it is necessary. Most children with eating and drinking difficulties do not need a videofluoroscopy.   

• What is a videofluoroscopy study? – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 
• Videofluoroscopy swallow study frequently asked questions – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 

Specialist support and referring to us 

Our online referral form for eating, drinking and swallowing is for community referrals only. Please do not use this form to refer a child for a videofluoroscopy swallow study or to refer inpatients at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. 

We recommend that parents and carers who wish to refer into the service discuss this with your child’s education or healthcare provider who can complete the form on your behalf. If you require any further support, please contact Speech and Language Therapy service on 0114 226 2333 or scn-tr.slt-sheffield@nhs.net 

Before you complete the electronic referral form below, you should make sure the family have been given the advice above. 

You can use this eating, drinking and swallowing referral checklist to ensure that you have all of the information required to make a referral to the specialist Speech and Language Therapy service. 

The following advice should only be used with the support of your Speech and Language Therapist. If you are unsure who your Speech and Language Therapist is, please call:0114 226 2333.

• Drinks and IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)  

• How to reduce thickener in your child’s drinks at home – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)  

• Texture recommendations and IDDSI – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)  

• Doidy cups and flexi cups – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)  

• Oral health information for children with enteral tube feeding – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)  

• Normalising sensation – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)  

• Working with children with restricted diets – Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)