Pediatric Feeding Therapy

Baby eatingAny issue that impacts a child’s ability to eat and/or drink causing limits in weight gain, growth and development may indicate that child has a Feeding Disorder. At NRH, our Pediatric Feeding Program includes therapists with specialized training in feeding and swallowing disorders for typical to medically complex patients. Our Pediatric Feeding therapy team includes speech and occupational therapists who will collaborate to ensure your child is receiving the appropriate interventions at home, school and within the medical community.

Children exhibiting the following symptoms may benefit from a feeding disorder evaluation:

  • Dehydration
  • Poor nutrition
  • Aspiration
  • Refusing food or liquids
  • Long feeding times
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Difficulty
  • Breast feeding
  • Excessive drooling
  • Less than normal weight gain or growth
  • Frequent or recurring pneumonia or upper respiratory infections
  • Embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating
  • Arching or stiffening of the body during feeding
  • Irritability or lack of alertness during feeding
  • Difficulty accepting different textures of food (e.g. only pureed food or crunchy cereals)
  • Food/liquid coming out of the mouth or nose
  • Difficulty coordinating breathing with eating and drinking
  • Gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice quality
  • Coughing or gagging during meals
  • Frequent spitting of vomiting

Our Pediatric Feeding Therapy path of care includes:

  • Attending a Pediatric Feeding Clinic for a comprehensive evaluation by a Speech Therapists and an Occupational Therapists to assess your child’s feeding needs. Evaluation by a Physical Therapist to further assess positional and tone is available as needed.
  • An individualized safe feeding plan is developed by our pediatric feeding therapy team to provide caregivers and schools with diet recommendations and safe mealtime modifications.
  • Follow up care may include weekly therapy in individual speech and/or occupational therapy.

To learn more about our Pediatric Feeding Program or to schedule an appointment with one of our pediatric feeding therapists, please contact us at 888-950-9939.