What is feeding therapy?
Feeding therapy is provided by either a licensed Speech Language Pathologist or an Occupational Therapist who has experience with feeding disorders. When a child is not eating, it is because there is a structural, functional, or sensory-based issue that needs to be addressed (often, it’s a combination of multiple factors). When a child is struggling to maintain weight, explore new textures, or engage in the mealtime experience, a feeding therapist can evaluate the child to discover the underlying cause of that difficulty. That provider can also make home programming recommendations for a family to carry over to improve the quality of their mealtime experiences at home.
What is the difference between picky eating and a feeding disorder?
Picky Eater
Usually eats over 30 different foods
May experience “food jags” where the child refuses a favorite food and needs a break from that food for a few weeks before eating it again
Can usually eat the same meal as the rest of the family
Can usually eat bites of non-preferred food
Eats a variety of textures (wet, dry, soft, hard, crunchy, and mixed-textured)
Eats food from a variety of food groups (fruit, veggies, starches, and proteins)
Prefers specific plates and cups and will only eat with those at home but can eat use other cups/plates/silverware at restaurants
Feeding Disorder
Usually eats fewer than 20 foods
Experiences food jags, but is unable to return to a previously jagged food after a few weeks, resulting in a smaller inventory of accepted foods
Often needs a meal that is different from the rest of the family
Is unable to take bites of non-preferred food without a negative response
Refuses specific textures of food regardless of flavor
Often refuses an entire food group
Unable to eat/drink without a specific cup, plate, or utensil, resulting in the family’s needing to bring those when eating out or on vacation
May also have delayed oral motor skills
How do I know if my child needs a feeding therapy evaluation?
You should seek a feeding therapy evaluation if you have concerns in the following areas:
Food range of fever than 20 foods
Picky eating/limited diet
Avoidance of a particular texture or food group
Gagging, coughing or choking during mealtimes
Stressful mealtimes
Oral motor concerns
Swallowing and chewing difficulties
Difficulty drinking from an open cup or straw cup
Meals exceed 30 minutes
Your child often becomes upset during meals
Your child often pushes away food
