Feeding Therapy
Our services
What is feeding and swallowing therapy?
Eating involves many steps. A child needs to bring food or drink to their mouth, manage it inside their mouth and swallow it. How food feels, smells and tastes can also affect their willingness to eat.
Feeding therapy addresses difficulties with eating skills and mealtime participation.
Swallowing therapy addresses difficulties moving food or liquid safely from the mouth toward the stomach. A child may need support in one area or both.
The evaluation helps identify which concerns need attention and whether other healthcare professionals should be involved.
Helping children build skills for eating and drinking
Feeding therapy helps children who have difficulty with the skills or experiences involved in eating and drinking. This can include accepting foods, managing different textures, chewing and participating in mealtimes.
At Treehouse Speech and Rehabilitation, we begin by understanding what is difficult for your child and what mealtimes are like for your family.
Feeding Therapy
Who helps children with feeding difficulties?
A speech-language pathologist (SLP)—often called a speech therapist—may have specialized training in feeding and swallowing as well as communication. An occupational therapist (OT) may help with sensory experiences, self-feeding and participation in mealtime routines.
The professionals involved depend on your child’s needs. Our team can explain the appropriate next step for your family.
Do any of these situations sound familiar?
You might be seeking help because your child:
- Accepts very few foods or avoids particular textures.
- Has difficulty chewing or keeps food in their cheeks.
- Gags frequently or puts too much food in their mouth.
- Becomes distressed at meals or takes unusually long to eat.
- Struggles with drinking or feeding themselves.
Share what you notice, even if you are unsure how to describe it. These observations are reasons to ask questions, not a diagnosis on their own.
When mealtimes become something to worry about
You may spend a great deal of time planning around the foods your child accepts. You may wonder how they will manage lunch at school, a family gathering or a change in routine.
You may also have tried advice that worked for another child but made little difference for yours.
Your experience matters. Tell us what has been difficult, what you have tried and what already helps. Understanding your family’s day is part of understanding the concern.
What can feeding therapy work toward?
Your child’s goals should reflect the evaluation findings. Depending on their needs, therapy may focus on:
Building eating and drinking skills
Working on the specific skills that make eating or drinking difficult.
Becoming more comfortable with appropriate foods
Exploring food experiences at a level suited to your child’s abilities and needs.
Participating in mealtimes
Finding practical supports for your child’s involvement in daily meals and snacks.
Helping caregivers understand the plan
Explaining the goals and discussing which strategies are appropriate to use at home.
The aim is a plan that fits your child. Progress is individual, and the therapist will discuss what to work toward and how to recognize change.
What happens at a feeding evaluation?
We start with your questions. What does your child usually eat and drink? Which parts of a meal are difficult? Have you noticed changes? What would you like help understanding?
The therapist reviews relevant history and assesses feeding skills as appropriate to your child’s needs. You will have an opportunity to discuss the findings and recommendations, including whether further medical assessment is needed.
Before your appointment, ask our team what to bring and whether they would like you to bring familiar foods, drinks or utensils.
When to contact your child’s healthcare provider
If your child coughs or chokes during meals, has difficulty breathing while feeding, or is losing weight or struggling to gain weight, contact their healthcare provider promptly. For an immediate breathing or choking emergency, call 911.
An online questionnaire cannot assess swallowing safety. Do not wait for a questionnaire result or website response to seek medical help.
Support that includes your family
You know the routines, preferences and situations that may not appear during an appointment. Sharing those details helps the therapist understand what the recommendations will mean at home.
Ask questions about the purpose of an activity and any changes being recommended. Home strategies should follow your child’s individual plan.
Families share their experience
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Let’s talk about your child’s mealtimes
You do not need to know whether the difficulty is related to feeding skills, sensory experiences or swallowing before asking for help.
Tell us what you are noticing. We can help you discuss the next step.
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