Esophageal Dysphagia Part 4: Belching and Rumination Disorders

Presented by Joy E. Gaziano

12-Month Subscription

Unlimited access to:

  • Thousands of CE Courses
  • Patient Education
  • Home Exercise Program
  • And more
Video Runtime: 69 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 26 Minutes

Traditionally, dysphagia management has been dichotomized into oropharyngeal and esophageal phases. Professional education has been discipline-specific, with little emphasis on disorders of the esophagus in speech-language pathology (SLP) training. Belching and rumination disorders are amenable to behavioral therapy, and SLPs who are trained to treat this population can play a critical role in their successful management.

Mastery of this course content should aid clinicians in identifying the clinical presentations of belching and rumination disorders. Clinicians will have a working knowledge of instrumental testing for these diagnoses, as well as the medical and surgical management options. Finally, the course should assist clinicians in expanding the populations they serve to include belching and rumination by offering assessment and behavioral treatment paradigms for these disorders.

Learning Objectives
  • Delineate a framework for classifying belching and rumination disorders
  • Distinguish clinical characteristics of aerophagia and supragastric belching disorders, and incorporate them into an effective assessment and treatment paradigm
  • Distinguish the clinical characteristics of rumination disorder, and incorporate them into an effective assessment and treatment paradigm
  • Integrate clinical and instrumental findings in a case study to formulate a plan of care for individuals with belching and rumination disorders

Meet your instructor

A woman with glasses and light brown hair smiles at the camera, representing medbridge healthcare training.

Joy E. Gaziano

Joy E. Gaziano is a medical speech pathologist and board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders (BCS-S) through ASHA. She has served the USF Center for Swallowing Disorders for more than 30 years, focusing on the management of complex upper aerodigestive disorders. She has an active clinical practice,…

Read full bio

Chapters & learning objectives

Framework for Classifying Belching and Rumination Disorders

1. Framework for Classifying Belching and Rumination Disorders

This chapter develops a framework for classifying belching and rumination disorders by contrasting the mind–body dualism philosophy with the biopsychosocial model of illness. It explains the Rome Foundation classification system for functional gastrointestinal disorders and introduces a new terminology—disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI).

Assessment and Treatment of Belching Disorders

2. Assessment and Treatment of Belching Disorders

This chapter outlines the clinical characteristics of aerophagia and belching disorders and incorporates an assessment and treatment paradigm to effectively manage them. It includes patient symptom reports, quality-of-life (QOL) impacts, assessment options, and medical management options. Behavioral management options by an SLP or health psychologist are also outlined, with the intent to permit the SLP to assume a supportive role in managing patients with these disorders.

Assessment and Treatment of Rumination Disorder

3. Assessment and Treatment of Rumination Disorder

This chapter outlines the clinical characteristics of rumination disorder and incorporates an assessment and treatment paradigm to effectively manage it. Content includes patient symptom reports, QOL impacts, assessment options, and medical management options. Behavioral management options by an SLP or health psychologist are also outlined with the intent to permit the SLP to assume a supportive role in managing patients with rumination disorder. A case study will synthesize the patient history and presenting complaints, SLP and medical assessments, treatment plan development, and outcomes.