Speech, language and swallowing difficulties in a child with aids

Abstract

AIDS has a great impact on the modern society as a source of illness and discrimination. It can cause a wide spectrum of disorders which can affect the health and life style of individuals. Globally, the number of individuals with AIDS is increasing and the count of such children is also rising drastically. AIDS caused by HIV is known to invade different systems of the body including the central nervous system thus causing neurological abnormalities/complications in children. Children infected with HIV may present with various types of communication disorders. Speech-language pathologists have investigated and reported the assessment and treatment of HIV-infected individuals in the past. However, studies are limited in the line of profiling the nature of communication and swallowing deficits seen in them. The present case study reports a detailed speech, language and swallowing profile of a child infected with HIV. Effective combination of medical and non-medical treatment for the HIV infection witnessed a great deal of improvement in this child. The importance of care and precautions to be considered while treating such children is highlighted.

Keywords

• HIV/AIDS
• speech-language
• swallowing