Feeding disorders may arise from difficulties in any step along the feeding process. Our overarching goals of feeding therapy are to ensure safety in eating, to help support adequate nutrition and hydration, as well as to promote a well-rounded diet and typical eating behaviors. We use a variety of strategies and methods of support, and work closely with your family as well as other medical professionals, such as nutritionists, pediatricians, and lactation consultants to ensure that all aspects of your child’s feeding difficulties are addressed.
We specialize in the evaluation and treatment of the following feeding-related issues:
motor-based feeding disorders
Feeding disorder resulting from weakness and/or in-coordination of any of the oral musculature, including jaw, lips, and tongue
- In infancy, baby may have poor latch and/or weak suck, resulting in inefficient bottle or breastfeeding abilities
- During toddler and early childhood years, child may have difficulty drinking from straw, reduced control of liquid flow from cup, immature or inefficient chewing pattern, food or liquid spillage from mouth, and/or excessive drooling
sensory-based feeding disorders
Feeding disorder resulting from sensory-regulation difficulties
- May be evident in toddler or early childhood years
- Child may present with food aversions, difficulty advancing to age appropriate foods, limited diet (presenting as a "picky-eater"), atypical mealtime behaviors, and gagging
orofacial myofunctional disorder
More commonly known as "tongue thrust"
- Tongue protrudes through teeth during swallowing, speech production, and at rest
- May interfere with development of mature swallowing pattern and typical speech production skills