As many as 1 in 4 children experience some type of feeding difficulty during infancy or early childhood. We evaluate and treat young children with a variety of feeding problems to ensure they get the proper nutrition and eat in an age-appropriate way.
A feeding disorder is identified when a child is unable or refuses to consume a sufficient quantity or variety of solids and liquids to maintain proper nutrition. As a result, your child may experience weight loss, malnutrition, lethargy, impaired development and poor growth.
Signs of a feeding issue may include:
A number of medical conditions can cause feeding problems. They are:
Children may also benefit from our program as they wean from feeding with nasogastric or gastrostomy tubes.
Our team includes a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, dietitian and behavioral psychologist. Together, we provide a comprehensive assessment to identify the issues interfering with feeding and then develop a personalized treatment plan for your child.
Testing may include a videofluoroscopic swallowing function study (VFSS) to evaluate how safely your child swallows liquid and/or food. The study shows if food goes into your child's airway instead of the stomach and which parts of the mouth or throat may not work well. The purpose of this test is to suggest changes that will improve your child's feeding/eating. It is usually followed by a feeding evaluation. During the feeding evaluation, our team members will meet with you and watch your child eat.
Based on the results of these tests, we will develop a home program and feeding guidelines. We may also offer other recommendations to meet the specific needs of your child.