Feeding Therapy at Sensory Kids
Our team includes occupational and speech therapists who find the big and small ways to help your child overcome picking eating or feeding challenges.
Finding the right solution for feeding challenges
…is vital, not only for health but for stress-free mealtimes as a family. We take the time to understand your child’s problem eating from a whole-child perspective so they’ll make progress in a way that feels comfortable and fun.
You’ll feel fully supported as we work together step-by-step to make changes for increased food intake, food variety, and mealtime joy.
FEEDING THERAPY CAN BENEFIT KIDS WITH:
Limited food intake
Picky eating
Mealtime battles
Food refusal
Coughing or choking while eating
Food anxiety
Motor challenges related to chewing
Cerebral Palsy
Down Syndrome
Sensory Processing Disorder
Dyspraxia
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Weaning from a G-tube
Difficulty drinking from a cup
FEEDING THERAPY WORKS ON:
Increasing # of foods
Exploring textures/tastes in the mouth
Getting comfortable with the sight, smell, or look of food
Decreasing the sensitivity of the mouth or face
Having fun with food without pressure to take a bite
Mealtime routines
The coordination and muscle strength for chewing
The coordination for swallowing
Confidence and calm around mealtimes
Caregiver education
The Food School Program
The good news is: with the right tools, your child can expand their diet and find eating enjoyable. Based on the highly successful SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach, our Food School team includes both occupational and speech therapists. We’ll navigate each step together, so your child can become a more confident and diverse eater.
We take into account everything that contributes to successful eating.
Including:
Interdisciplinary support with pediatricians, dieticians, or other therapists
Understanding digestion and health concerns
Your child’s stage of development
Behaviors that interfere with eatinG
Impact of sensory system and sensations of eating
Coordination and muscle strength for chewing
Optimizing the environment for successful eating
While building new feeding skills and routines may take time, you’ll feel the weight of the unknown lift when you meet a therapist who understands your challenges and joins your circle of support. We’re ready to join you in celebrating the joy of each small success on your child’s journey.
What to Expect in Feeding Therapy
Initial Evaluation
The initial evaluation is very thorough as we dive in to understand your goals and figure out the root causes of your child’s feeding challenges. We respect your child’s boundaries as we observe their response to foods and use other fun activities to understand their eating.
It’s helpful if you come to the initial evaluation ready to discuss:
Foods your child is currently eating.
Foods your child won’t eat.
Any items your child used to eat but no longer is eating.
Past medical history that may play into eating habits
Strategies you’ve tried at home
Therapy Sessions
Ongoing therapy sessions build feeding skills at your child’s pace. In some cases, food exploration simply looks like making a mess to get comfortable with food textures before ever needing to take a bite.
For continuity of care, you’ll typically be working with one therapist throughout your journey, although sometimes changes are made to match your needs to the therapist with the right skill set. Length of treatment varies from child to child, but in some cases, it can take months to build new eating skills in a way that’s respectful and fun. That’s ok, we’re here for you and your child – however long it takes.
Meals at Home
Truth is, the key to your child’s progress is empowering you – the caregiver – with tools for skills-building during all the mealtimes between sessions. You can do this! And we’re here with all the support and guidance you need. A therapy meal home program will be implemented based on what is being done during food school.
