Feeding therapy is more than just “teaching a child to eat.” Feeding therapy is a play-based therapy that is performed by a multidisciplinary feeding team, including specialty trained occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. Dependent on your child’s underlying issues, whether they be physical, sensory, behavioral, developmental or combination of these, your therapists will devise a plan for working on addressing the underlying barriers to your child’s ability to eat an age-appropriate meal and make the entire process of eating easier and more enjoyable.

 

How do I know if my child needs feeding therapy? 

A child with a feeding disorder is more than a picky eater. Your child may have a few "safe" foods but will panic when asked to eat any other foods. Some children have sensory food aversions, or consistently refuse to eat certain foods related to the brand, taste, texture, temperature, smell and/or appearance.

In children with a diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), food selectivity and feeding issues are often  major concerns, with food texture and consistency being one of the most cited underlying factors in whether the child will consume or reject specific foods. Sensory food aversions can lead to restricted diet, nutrient deficiencies, increased family stress, and social isolation.

If your child exhibits any of the following signs of a feeding disorder, speak with your pediatrician:

• Refusal to eat most foods; eats less than 20 foods
• Refusal to eat or drink different textures
• Avoidance of entire foods groups, colors, brands, or temperatures
• Mealtime distress or tantrums
• Unable to eat or drink enough for optimal growth
• Relies on supplement drinks to meet caloric needs
• Needs distractions to eat (e.g., screentime)
• Slow eating, long meal duration (>30 mins)
• Unable to eat in new or unfamiliar situations (e.g., unable to go to a restaurant)
• Choking, coughing, gagging, retching, or vomiting during meals
• Refusal or inability to chew or swallow
• Trouble self-feeding
• Problems with oral motor coordination, such as difficulty using a straw or food spilling from mouth

Types of Feeding Difficulties Addressed

Feeding therapy is often used to address various feeding-related challenges, such as:

• Oral motor difficulties (e.g., trouble chewing, swallowing, or moving food in the mouth).
• Sensory issues (e.g., over-sensitivity to textures, smells, or tastes of food).
• Behavioral issues (e.g., picky eating, refusal to eat certain foods, or fear of eating).

Goals of Pediatric Feeding Therapy

Overall, the goal of pediatric feeding therapy is to help children develop the skills they need to eat and enjoy food, ensuring they get the nutrition they need for healthy growth and development.

Some specific objectives of feeding therapy include:

• Improving Oral Motor Skills

Strengthening the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing, and teaching children how to coordinate these movements effectively.

• Promoting Food Acceptance

Helping children overcome food aversions or fears, allowing them to accept a broader variety of foods. This may involve introducing new foods gradually and using techniques to reduce anxiety around eating.

• Addressing Sensory Sensitivities

Working with children who are sensitive to food textures, smells, or tastes, and helping them tolerate or enjoy a wider range of sensory experiences.

• Enhancing Feeding Independence

Encouraging children to feed themselves, improving their fine motor skills, and fostering autonomy during mealtimes.

• Developing Healthy Eating Habits

Teaching appropriate feeding behaviors and routines, such as eating at regular times, self-regulation of hunger, and recognizing satiety cues.

Methods Used in Feeding Therapy

There is no “one size fits all” method of feeding therapy. Starfish utilizes a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates different strategies that are selected based on each child’s individual needs.

• Behavioral Interventions

Positive reinforcement, food chaining (gradually introducing new foods by linking them to foods the child already likes), and systematic desensitization.

• Sensory Integration Techniques

Exposing children to different food textures, tastes, and smells in a non-threatening way to build tolerance.

• Oral-Motor Exercises

Strengthening oral muscles with specific exercises to improve chewing and swallowing.

• Parent Education

Teaching parents how to support their child’s feeding development at home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I enroll my child in feeding therapy?

Starfish Youth Therapy Center currently provides pediatric feeding therapy for children aged 3-22 with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. If your child exhibits signs of a feeding disorder, ask his or her pediatrician for a referral for feeding therapy using the referral coversheet from our website: https://www.wfall.org/starfish/

How long does feeding therapy take?

Starfish feeding therapy sessions will take place at regular intervals (e.g., weekly or monthly visits) and will be continued based on your child’s response to treatment and progress toward feeding goals. The length and frequency of therapy sessions is determined after comprehensive evaluation, based on each child’s unique needs. The child’s therapist will work with the child and his or her caregivers to make sure the child gets the right amount of therapy so that he or she can progress without feeling too overwhelmed.

What roles do caregivers play in feeding therapy?

Caregivers play an important role in feeding therapy. As a vital member of the child’s care team, you will observe and participate in your child’s appointments. While your child is learning skills to become a better eater, caregivers must learn the skills and strategies they can use at home to help the child progress and become a better eater and/or drinker. The child’s caregivers and therapists are a team, working together to make sure the child receives the therapeutic, physical, social, and emotional support to improve his or her feeding skills and habits. To provide your child with what they need at home, our therapists will teach the child’s caregivers:

• Feeding strategies and general advice for eating at home.
• Tactics for addressing negative mealtime behaviors.
• How to continue encouraging the child to eat the new foods introduced during therapy at home.
• To keep a food log of what the child eats and how he or she acts at mealtime and reacts to foods.

Working as a team, caregivers and therapists decide which foods to introduce or target during the therapy. This decision includes many factors including the child’s sensory and oral motor skill level, the family’s culture and lifestyle choices, the child’s specific nutritional needs, and the child’s individualized feeding goals.