Children and adults with developmental disabilities have a higher risk of choking compared to the general population.
Risk Factors Include:
Some medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of choking are:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Seizure disorders
- Neurological and muscular disorders
- Down Syndrome
- Brain Injury
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Inability to swallow certain food textures and liquids
- Medication side effects which decrease voluntary muscles
- Dysphasia (difficulty swallowing)
Other contributing factors include:
Eat or drink too fast
Have poor posture when eating
Swallow non-edible objects (PICA)
The following foods put people at greater risk:
- Hotdogs served whole
- Hard candy
- Popcorn
- Sandwiches
- Broccoli
- Raw carrots
- Nuts
Teaching Material on Choking
Arizona Department of Economic Security
Eunice Kennedy Shriver-Dysphasia, Aspiration and Choking
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
New York State Choking Prevention Resources
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
State Agencies Choking Alerts
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
