Individualized Support

A child might benefit from feeding therapy if they exhibit any of the following:

• Difficulty chewing foods, typically swallowing food in whole pieces.

• Difficulty swallowing foods or refuses to swallow certain types of food consistencies.

• Refuses to eat certain food textures or has difficulty transitioning from one texture to another texture (ex: from bottle feedings to purees, from purees to soft solids or mixed textured foods).

• Gags on, avoids or is very sensitive to certain food textures, food temperatures and/or flavors.

• Struggles to control and coordinate moving food around in mouth, chewing and preparing to swallow food.

• Fussy or irritable with feeding.

• The child seems congestion during feedings or after.

• Frequently coughs when eating.

• Gags and chokes when eating.

• Frequently vomits during or immediately after eating or drinking.

• Refuses or rarely tries new foods.

• Pushes food away.

• Has difficulty transitioning from gastric tube (G tube) feedings to oral feedings.

• Negative mealtime behaviors (infant cries, arches, pulls away from food; child refuses to eat, tantrums at mealtimes or “shuts-down” and does not engage in mealtime).

• Infant demonstrating signs of difficulty with coordinating the suck/swallow/breath pattern during bottle or breastfeeding.

• Feeding time taking longer than 30 minutes for infants, and 30 to 40 minutes for toddlers or young children.

• Known to be a “picky eater” who eats a limited variety of foods or consistencies.

Specialized Clinicians

Our feeding therapy team works closely with clients and their families to determine the source of the child’s difficulties and develop specific therapies to make the entire process of eating easier and more enjoyable.