Improved mealtimes.
Balanced nutrition.
We work to identify and address the core issue related to feeding, while striving to develop skills that will last a lifetime.
Using evidence-based practice, years of experience and a family-centered approach to cater therapy to meet the specific needs of your family.
What We Do
We provide feeding/swallowing evaluation and therapy to individuals of all ages. We specialize in the following:
Oral Motor Impairment
There are over 20 muscles, and 6 cranial nerves involved in feeding/swallowing. They all must work in unison to receive food, prepare it and send it to the stomach. Given all the moving parts, it’s no surprise that a breakdown can occur. These difficulties may be apparent at birth, while transitioning to other textures or after a significant change like a traumatic injury.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
An eating disorder that responds to techniques that have been proven effective with feeding disorders. Whether you have a sensory sensitivity, lack of interest in eating or fear of aversive consequences around eating, we can help identify the root cause of the behaviors around eating and provide you with strategies that will last well beyond therapy. We are used to a multidisciplinary approach and are eager to work with your current providers or we can help connect you with ones in the area.
Texture Progression
Firmness, moisture content, temperature, and shape are a few of the factors that contribute to experiencing a new food. One food can take on many forms that call on a different series of muscles and require a different level of skill. Think about how differently you would manage mashed potato, a hash brown and a French fry. We meet the individual where they are and help them build on the skills they have.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a medical term describing difficulty swallowing. A child may be born with this or it may occur later on and it may be a temporary or a chronic issue. If your child enjoys eating, we will work to make sure it is as safe as possible. Our swallow muscles are like the rest of the muscles in our body. Sometimes they need some help, either in strength or form to make sure they are working properly. Think of us as “personal trainers” …for eating!
Picky Eating
There is a lot of confusion around age-appropriate picky eating and severe picky eating. This behavior can be very disruptive for the child and the whole family. Sure, some kids will “grow out of it” but incorrectly addressing these behaviors can result in a long-lasting problem. We know a nutritionally balanced diet is crucial for development. We help kids find the courage to explore and incorporate new foods.
Aversion
This is a strong dislike and can be related to color, shape, smell, food group or texture to name a few. This may be in response to experiencing the food in their mouth, seeing the food on their plate or even smelling the food. Although we can’t guarantee your child will love broccoli, we can help give them the tools to make their experience with it is less upsetting.
Inconsistent Intake
Perhaps your child is neither picky nor has an aversion, but you are concerned about the volume of food they are consuming. Maybe they’ve demonstrated that they can eat a whole burger, but other times, they are full after just one bite. We help you help your child learn to listen to the cues their body is giving them and provide strategies to assure they are set up for success.
Difficulty With Weight Gain
Your child is doing all the right things; however, does not appear to be gaining weight. If there is no identified medical condition after speaking to your pediatrician, we can help explore options to improve efficiency or improve caloric density.
G-Tube Dependence
If your child is medically stable, can tolerate bolus feeds, and is interested in food, but you have difficulty figuring out how to proceed, we can help! With collaboration from a feeding specialist and registered dietitian, we can help increase oral intake and reduce g-tube feeds.
Pediatric Feeding Disorder
Impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction. We help identify the function of the behavior and provide specific recommendations.
It takes a village
Although we specialize in these areas and have worked with hundreds of kids, no one knows your child like you do. Perhaps your child fits into one of these boxes exactly, or maybe they have a sprinkling of a few; either way, our goal is the same: to make sure your child is reaching their most significant potential. Our team is happy to work with your current medical providers, schools, and therapists. We prefer it! As a team, we can get farther together.
