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Feeding Therapy

Proper nutrition and feeding is important for a child's physical, emotional, and developmental growth.  Feeding therapy at ACCESS takes a unique approach to food aversions and feeding obstacles from both an oral motor and sensory perspective.

Who We Serve

Children ages six weeks through school age who may struggle with eating due to:

  • Oral motor deficiencies or delays 
  • Food aversions
  • Difficulty transitioning from tube feedings and dietary suplements to self-feeding
  • Anxiety over mealtime or new foods 

Meet Our Therapists

The therapists at ACCESS are highly-qualified experts with years of experience with children of all ages.

MEET OUR TEAM

Feeding therapy at ACCESS is led by occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists who are specially-trained in various approaches, including:

  • SOS Approach to Feeding
  • Talk Tools
  • Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
  • Food Chaining

Our therapists also specialize in helping children transition off of tube feedings, sensory aversions, bottle feeding, home/parent trainings, oral motor milestones, and more.

During an initial feeding evaluation, our primary goal is to be a “detective” for your child’s feeding difficulties. Taking the team approach to feeding allows us to look at all aspects of the eating process and determine where a breakdown is occurring. It is incredibly important to find the underlying causes of a feeding difficulty, whether it be oral motor deficits, sensory aversions, or a mix of both. This in-depth evaluation approach helps us to determine which therapy discipline (occupational therapy, speech therapy, or both) can most effectively treat your child's feeding issues.

How do I know if my child would benefit from feeding therapy?

  • May be a good candidate for feeding therapy services if he or she:

    • Takes an extended amount of time to finish a bottle.
    • Cannot eat purees from a spoon by 10 months.
    • Chokes, gags, or coughs during meals.
    • Does not accept any solid table foods by 12 months.
    • Has difficulty transitioning from a bottle to a cup.
    • Has difficulty exploring foods with his or her hands.
    • Is not gaining weight or maintaining a growth curve.

  • May be a candidate for feeding therapy services if he or she:

    • Refuses to eat foods that are hard to chew.
    • Cannot sit at the table for family meals.
    • Chokes, gags, or coughs during meals.
    • Consistently requires a different meal than the rest of the family.
    • Has difficulty exploring foods with his or her hands.
    • Eats less than 20 different foods.
    • Is not gaining weight or maintaining a growth curve.

  • May be a candidate for feeding therapy services if he or she:

    • Refuses to eat foods that are hard to chew.
    • Avoids foods with certain textures.
    • Chokes, gags, or coughs during meals.
    • Consistently requires a different meal than the rest of the family.
    • Has difficulty exploring foods with his or her hands.
    • Eats less than 20 different foods.
    • Is not gaining weight or maintaining a growth curve.
    • Finds food becoming a deterrent to participating in other activities or gatherings.
    • Is very anxious about new or different foods.

Schedule a Feeding Therapy Evaluation

Contact our admissions team to schedule an evaluation with our Feeding Therapy team.

CONTACT US

Potential Unlocked: Parent Testimonials

  • My son's feeding issues were complex and serious after being born with complications. His therapist worked with him through gag reflexes, bottle aversion, dairy sensitivities, learning to use a sippy cup, learning to eat, and trying new foods. She also guided my husband and me as to what strategies and foods we could use at home. We are so thankful for the support my son has received from ACCESS. We celebrate the progross he has made and the weight he has maintained!

    -Susan Hill, Parent