Speech, language and swallowing difficulties in achild with aids

Abstract

AIDS has a great impact on the modern society as a source of illness and discrimination. It cancause 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 isalso rising drastically. AIDS caused by HIV is known to invade different systems of the bodyincluding the central nervous system thus causing neurological abnormalities/complications inchildren. Children infected with HIV may present with various types of communication disorders.Speech-language pathologists have investigated and reported the assessment and treatment ofHIV-infected individuals in the past. However, studies are limited in the line of profiling thenature of communication and swallowing deficits seen in them. The present case study reports adetailed speech, language and swallowing profile of a child infected with HIV. Effective combin-ation of medical and non-medical treatment for the HIV infection witnessed a great deal ofimprovement in this child. The importance of care and precautions to be considered while treat-ing such children is highlighted.