Swallowing and feeding disorders in children represent a complex and rapidly evolving field that requires close collaboration among healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines. Pediatric dysphagia can affect children of all ages and may have significant consequences for nutrition, growth, respiratory health, development and quality of life. Early recognition, accurate assessment and appropriate management are essential to achieving the best possible outcomes for patients and their families.
The course provides a comprehensive overview of pediatric dysphagia, from the fundamentals of normal swallowing development to the latest advances in diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic management. Through lectures delivered by internationally recognised experts, interactive discussions and case-based learning, it aims to foster knowledge exchange and promote multidisciplinary approaches to care.
Physicians, speech and language pathologists, psychologists, dietitians, nurses, researchers and allied healthcare professionals are all welcome.
Ana Đanić Hadžibegović, MD, PhD — Course President
Programme
Thursday, 10 December 2026 — 08:00 to 17:30
Time
Session
08:00–09:00
Registration
09:00–09:20
Opening remarks and introduction
09:20–10:40
Anatomy and physiology
Anatomy and physiology of swallowing in preterm infants and neonates
Anatomy and physiology of swallowing after the first year of life
Swallowing vs. feeding disorders
Discussion
10:40–11:10
Coffee break
11:10–12:30
Clinical assessment
Screening and developmental checklist
Up-to-date objective measures
In-office vs. hospital clinical examination
Discussion
12:30–14:00
Lunch
14:00–15:20
Instrumental assessment
Videofluoroscopy
Esophageal diagnostic testing in the evaluation of pediatric dysphagia
Discussion
15:20–15:50
Coffee break
15:50–17:30
Pediatric populations at risk — Part I
Respiratory conditions and dysphagia
Neurogenic pediatric dysphagia
Genetic and metabolic causes of pediatric dysphagia
Cleft palate and dysphagia
Discussion
19:30
Get-together dinner
Friday, 11 December 2026 — 09:00 to 18:00
Time
Session
09:00–10:40
Pediatric populations at risk — Part II
Cardiac conditions and dysphagia
Functional disorders, GERD and eosinophilic esophagitis
Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula
Psychosocial and behavioral disorders
Discussion
10:40–11:00
Coffee break
11:00–12:40
Pediatric populations at risk — Part III
Tracheostomy management in children with oropharyngeal dysphagia
Dysphagia management in the neonatal intensive care unit
Dysphagia treatment in clinical and outpatient settings
Dysphagia treatment: the occupational therapist’s approach
Discussion
12:40–14:00
Lunch
14:00–15:40
Dysphagia management
Drug administration in dysphagic children
Nutrition in children with dysphagia
Sialorrhea management
Feeding tube management
Discussion
15:40–16:00
Coffee break
16:00–17:45
Interdisciplinary management — case reports
17:45–18:00
Closing remarks
Registration fees
Category
Early bird – until 15 October 2026
Regular – from 16 October 2026
UEP member
€ 300
€ 400
Medical doctor, SLP, psychologist, dietitian, occupational therapist, nurse
€ 350
€ 450
The fee includes: attendance to all sessions, name badge, lunches and coffee breaks.
Organising committee
Prof. Ana Đanić Hadžibegović, MD, PhD — Course President
Prof. Haldun Oguz, MD, PhD — President, Union of European Phoniatricians
Prof. Daniele Farneti, MD — Chair of the UEP Swallowing Committee
Prof. Mohamed Farahat, MD, PhD — Chair of the UEP Swallowing Committee
Prof. Drago Prgomet, MD, PhD — Head of the Clinical Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Prof. Ratko Prstačić, MD, PhD — Head of the Phoniatrics Division, Clinical Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Martina Fojtik Budanko, SLP — University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Faculty
Reham AbdelWakil Ibrahim, MD, PhD, Professor of Phoniatrics, Egypt
Rania M. Abdou Mustafa, MD, PhD, Professor of Phoniatrics, Egypt
Tamer Abou-Elsaad, MD, PhD, Professor of Phoniatrics, Egypt
Sally Adele, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Phoniatrics, Egypt
Ivan Bambir, MD, Croatia
Ivo Barić, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, Croatia
Dorotea Bartoniček, MD, Croatia
Ana Đanić Hadžibegović, MD, PhD, Professor of Otorhinolaryngology, Croatia
Martina Fojtik Budanko, SLP, Croatia
Ana Goleš Juriša, mag. psych., Croatia
Irena Ivković, MD, PhD, Croatia
Veronika Kranbiter, MD, Austria
Aude Lager, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Belgium
Dina Ljubas Kelečić, Clinical Pharmacist, PhD, Croatia
Lana Omerza, MD, Croatia
Ivana Sabolić, MD, PhD, Croatia
Mariam Shadi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Phoniatrics, Egypt
Darija Vranešić Bender, PhD, Associate Professor of Nutrition, Croatia
Venue
Hotel Academia Tkalčićeva 88, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Organisers
Organised by the Swallowing Committee of the Union of European Phoniatricians, in cooperation with the Clinical Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, under the auspices of The Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences.
