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FEEDING THERAPY for KIDS!

Oral Motor Skills  •  Sensory Aversions  •  Picky Eating  •  Chewing Difficulties  •  Swallowing Difficulties

At Beyond Speech Therapy, feeding therapy is a collaborative service with both our occupational and speech therapists assessing and treating feeding disorders. 

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Feeding therapy addresses a range of concerns, including picky eating, oral motor difficulties, difficulty chewing and swallowing, aversion to certain food textures, and issues related to choking or gagging. We aim to help your child develop a positive relationship with food and reduce mealtime stress, ensuring that eating becomes an enjoyable and successful experience for your child and family.

SIGNS YOUR CHILD MAY BENEFIT FROM THERAPY TO ADDRESS PICKY EATING

​Your child may benefit from therapy to address picky eating if they:

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  • eat limited foods and often refuse to try new foods

  • display negative reactions, such as gagging, spitting out food

  • have sensory aversions to foods due to texture, smell, temperature, or taste

  • engage in power struggles during mealtimes

  • exhibit anxiety, tantrums, or strong emotions related to food or eating situations

  • have an imbalanced diet, lacking variety and important nutrients

  • struggle with feeding themselves

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Occasional picky eating is common in young children, and most outgrow it over time. However, persistent and severe picky eating that impacts a child's growth, nutritional status, or daily functioning may warrant an evaluation and therapy.

HOW FEEDING THERAPY CAN HELP YOUR PICKY EATER

Therapy for picky eating often involves a collaboration between your speech and/or occupational therapist, registered dietitian, pediatrician, or psychologist. Therapy will help your child expand their food repertoire and decrease mealtime frustration using techniques such as:

 

  • gradual exposure to new foods, textures, or flavors in a structured and supportive environment

  • exercises or techniques to improve the strength, coordination, and control of the oral muscles involved in chewing and swallowing 

  • desensitization techniques and sensory-based activities, such as tactile play or sensory diets

  • routines, positive reinforcement, and strategies to reduce mealtime stress or anxiety may be implemented

  • parent education for strategies to create a positive and consistent mealtime environment at home

Child working on picky eating during speech therapy

SIGNS OF A SENSORY-BASED FEEDING DISORDER

Signs of a sensory-based feeding disorder, also known as sensory food aversion, are:

 

  • extremely restricted range of foods your child is willing to eat, often limited to just a few preferred or familiar items

  • resistance or refusal to try new foods or food groups

  • strong sensory reactions to specific textures, tastes, smells, or temperatures of foods

  • finding certain textures (e.g., mushy, slimy, crunchy) particularly aversive or intolerable

  • gagging, choking, or vomiting when presented with certain foods or textures

  • stressful mealtimes for both the child and parents

  • rigid or repetitive eating rituals or behaviors

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It's important to note that the presence of these signs and symptoms does not necessarily indicate a sensory-based feeding disorder on its own. A comprehensive evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate intervention.

THERAPY TO ADDRESS SENSORY FEEDING NEEDS

Therapy for feeding disorders often involves a collaboration between your speech and/or occupational therapist, registered dietitian, pediatrician, or psychologist. Therapy will help your child:

 

  • expand their food repertoire

  • consume a balanced and nutritious diet that includes a variety of textures, flavors, and food groups

  • increase tolerance of different textures, tastes, smells, and temperatures

  • reduce anxiety, stress, and aversions during mealtimes

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Ultimately, the goal is to improve your child's overall quality of life by reducing feeding-related stress and anxiety, supporting their social participation in meals, and promoting a healthy relationship with food. 

Child with food aversions working on accepting more foods during feeding therapy

SIGNS OF AN ORAL MOTOR-BASED FEEDING DISORDER

Signs of a feeding disorders related to oral motor challenges include:

 

  • difficulty latching onto a bottle or breast

  • trouble coordinating sucking and swallowing

  • liquids leaking during feeding

  • a protruding or forward tongue movement during feeding, often referred to as tongue thrust

  • difficulty chewing food or food getting stuck in the mouth

  • frequent gagging, choking, or coughing during or after feeding

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These signs can also be associated with other feeding or swallowing disorders, so a comprehensive evaluation is necessary to assess and diagnose specific oral motor and feeding difficulties.

THERAPY FOR ORAL MOTOR-BASED FEEDING DISORDERS

Feeding therapy for oral motor challenges will involve collaboration between your therapist, pediatrician, and other important professionals on your child's team. At Beyond Speech Therapy we will help your child:

 

  • improve their ability to eat, drink, and swallow safely and effectively

  • increase strength, coordination, and control of the oral muscles involved in eating and swallowing

  • broaden their acceptance of different food textures, consistencies, and flavors

  • swallow safely and effectively, reducing the risk of choking, gagging, or aspiration

  • expand their food choices and improve their ability to consume a variety of nutrients

  • decrease aversions, anxiety, or disruptive behaviors during mealtimes

WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS! 

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