The Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development now offers VitalStim therapy, a non-invasive treatment for children with swallowing disorders. The new service is available from Ashley Shaffer, the newest member of the speech-language department at the Schreiber Center and the first speech-language pathologist at the center to attain certification in VitalStim therapy.

VitalStim is an FDA-approved therapy that utilizes electrical currents to stimulate throat muscles, ensuring proper and safe swallowing. Swallowing, considered by many as an automatic reflex, involves a complex process requiring coordination among approximately 50 pairs of muscles and nerves across three stages. The pharyngeal phase, where VitalStim therapy is most effective, is crucial for protecting the airway and ensuring proper movement of food from the mouth to the esophagus. Children requiring feeding therapy may include those with neuromuscular disorders, congenital conditions like cleft palates, developmental delays affecting swallowing abilities, and those recovering from surgery or injuries impacting throat muscles.

The new equipment - including the VitalStim Plus Electrotherapy and sEMG Biofeedback System, as well as VitalStim Electrodes - was purchased through an October 2023 donation of $13,050 from the GIANT Company through its Make a Difference Challenge.

For more information about the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development, contact marketing manager Alexandra Cahill at acahill@schreiberpediatric.org or 717-393-0425, ext. 129.