Enteral nutrition for a person with developmental disability

Enteral tube feeding should be considered if the person with dysphagia:

• aspirates food or fluid into the lungs with negative health impacts
• cannot get adequate nourishment despite a reasonable trial of texture-modified foods, outlined on a mealtime or nutrition care plan (see also Underweight people with developmental disability).

A gastrostomy tube may be indicated if prolonged enteral nutrition is likely (ie longer than 4 to 6 weeks). Gastrostomy tube insertion may be combined with a fundoplication to reduce gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD) and risk of aspiration. But, even if the person is no longer aspirating food or fluids, they may still aspirate saliva from the mouth after gastrostomy with fundoplication.

Regularly follow up people who receive enteral nutrition to review their respiratory health, and posture and positioning at mealtimes.