Services: Feeding

Feeding therapy addresses the needs of children who have difficulty progressing with their feeding skills. A feeding disorder includes problems such as food refusal/acceptance, difficulty consuming age-appropriate foods, difficulty swallowing, and/or the inability to consume adequate calories. Current research indicates that the prevalence of feeding disorders is 25% in all children and 80% in the developmentally disabled population (Manikam & Perman, 2000).  Depending on the child’s needs, therapy may involve oral-motor intervention, behavioral intervention, medical intervention (provided by primary care physician and other medical specialists), and/or a combination of these. The following is a list of possible reasons to make a referral for feeding therapy:

Behavioral Issues

• Expelling
• Gagging
• Holding food
• Avoiding/Refusing food
• Vomiting/Retching
• Poor Mouth Opening

Underlying Conditions/Medical Diagnoses

• History of Reflux (GERD)
• Dysphagia
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Prematurity
• Failure to Thrive
• Genetic Syndromes
• Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
• Food Allergies
• Metabolic Disorders