Empowering Food Exploration, Eating & Swallowing
Feeding issues are complex and made up of many components from challenges getting food to your mouth, challenges eating or swallowing due to oral-motor differences, or avoidance and aversion to different food presented. It can be very challenging for families to identify what is “normal” picky eating or skill development and what goes beyond that to disordered feedings. Many children encounter occasional swallowing issues, but some face consistent challenges affecting their nutrition, hydration, and overall well-being. When feeding is disordered these issues can transform mealtime from bonding moments for families to a time of stress and concern.
At PediPlay in Indianapolis, IN, dive deep into disorders related to swallowing and feeding difficulties. In the referral and evaluation process we look to determine if your needs are best served by working with occupational or speech therapy as they both address different components of feeding and eating skills. Using various research based techniques tailored to each child’s unique needs, our therapists work diligently to help your child become more successful at mealtimes.
If you’re witnessing signs of persistent choking, coughing, food refusal, anxiety or avoidance around mealtimes from your child, it might be more than just picky eating and your child may benefit from feeding therapy interventions.
Common Conditions addressed in Feeding therapy
Feeding therapy can look at multiple components of mealtimes because difficulties in any area of mealtime can impact your child have successful. Understanding any areas of breakdown or difficulty in any stage of the meal is important for your therapist to establish effective treatment.
Common Conditions:
Dysphagia
This is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. This could be a difficulty in any component of eating from difficulty chewing and moving food or liquids in your mouth to difficulty swallowing and movement of food down to your esophagus. Dysphagia can be secondary to different medical diagnoses or conditions, prematurity, or it could stem from muscle weakness or coordination problems. Dysphagia can lead to aspiration. Aspiration is when food or drink enters the windpipe instead of going down the esophagus. It can sometimes even lead to pneumonia if not addressed.
Oral Aversion
Avoidance or aversions may be where a child avoids bringing certain items to their mouth be it food, a toothbrush, or even a toy. This can also be where children show distress during feeding such as crying or arching away from presented items. These displays may be due to sensory differences or previous negative experiences such as gagging, puking, or choking this could also be displayed after multiple medical interventions such as intubations.
Signs to Watch For:
- Consistent coughing, gagging, or choking during meals.
- Frequent regurgitation during or after meals.
- Avoidance of certain textures or types of food.
- Unexplained weight loss or slow growth.
- Changes to voice after eating or drinking.
- Reports of pain or discomfort with certain foods or liquids
- Prolonged mealtimes
While any child could face swallowing challenges, those with neurological disorders, sensory differences, a history of premature birth, or those who’ve experienced severe reflux might be more prone.
Navigating Pediatric Feeding Therapy Sessions
Unfortunately, when faced with swallowing challenges or feeding difficulties the act of enjoying a simple meal can become daunting for many families. We hope to provide feeding therapy that can help your family better understand how to support your child and their unique journey with feeding development. At our clinic your child’s journey will begin when we receive a referral from your child’s doctor for feeding therapy. Often times we say occupational therapy helps get the food to your child’s mouth so if your child is experiencing challenges with self-feeding or has sensory aversions to food then occupational therapy is probably the best fit for them. If your child struggles with the food once it is in their mouth from chewing to swallowing, then speech therapy is most likely the best fit for them. Some children see both disciplines for feeding therapy, or if there are components of breakdowns across these skills then our therapists may consult with their teammates to decide where to begin feeding therapy. Next our therapists will complete an evaluation that may include observations of them with different foods, interviewing your family, reviewing their medical background. This evaluation isn’t just about understanding the problem; it’s about getting to know your child, their unique challenges, and their strengths. A customized treatment plan including planned frequency and goals developed to target your child’s specific needs is created from there.
In addition to in-clinic sessions, our dedicated therapists are always working to empower parents with knowledge because we know how important parental involvement is for carryover and best therapeutic outcomes. You can expect to learn carryover activities or strategies that can be safely practiced or implemented at home as we work on creating positive mealtime routines!
What sets PediPlay in Indianapolis, IN apart is our commitment to individualized care. Our therapists not only bring their expertise to the table but also their heart. With the right blend of knowledge and compassion, we hope to ensure your child receives the best care tailored to their specific needs.
If you have concerns or are eager to learn more, reach out today!
The Path Forward with PediPlay
Challenges with swallowing may seem like a small part of a child’s world, but its impact is vast, touching aspects of nutrition, social interaction, and self-confidence. Fortunately, with speech therapy for swallowing challenges, your child can reclaim the simple joys of eating without difficulty.
Call us to learn more about how pediatric speech therapy can unravel swallowing disorders and sculpt a brighter, more confident tomorrow for your child. Every child deserves a chance to thrive; with our guidance, yours can too!