Our objective was to characterize the common occurrence of feeding and
swallowing disorders noticed by our
speech therapy department among patients with agenesis of the corpus callosum. All patients with suspected or presumed agenesis of the corpus callosum undergoing
therapy for feeding and/or
swallowing disorders, including oral and/or pharyngeal
dysphagia and oral-
sensory disorder, were identified. Their brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies and charts were reviewed in detail. Seven patients with striking oral-motor and oral-
sensory disorder met the criteria for agenesis of the corpus callosum. Particular difficulties noted include oral-sensory defensiveness in five of these seven patients, oral
dysphagia/weakness in all seven patients, and pharyngeal
dysphagia with risk of aspiration in three of these seven patients. The oral-motor weakness observed in all of the patients affected the strength and coordination necessary for functional oral-phase swallowing. We conclude that feeding and
swallowing disorders are significant in children with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Although the pathophysiologic mechanism is not known, recognition of this phenomenon is important because early detection and intervention can facilitate functional feeding and swallowing patterns earlier in these patients, therefore avoiding the adverse and more severe disorders that can arise when dysphagias and/or oral-
sensory disorder persist over extended periods of time.