MOST/DFW

Make the MOST of therapy | Make the MOST of life

4601 Medical Center Drive McKinney, TX, 75069 United States

469.850.2909

Myofunctional, Speech, and Occupational Therapy Clinic with two faciltities based in the Far North Dallas Area.

feeding Therapy

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What are feeding and swallowing disorders?

Feeding disorders include problems gathering food and getting ready to suck, chew, or swallow it. For example, a child who cannot pick up food and get it to her mouth or cannot completely close her lips to keep food from falling out of her mouth may have a feeding disorder.

Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia (dis-FAY-juh), can occur at different stages in the swallowing process:

  • Oral phase – sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat

  • Pharyngeal phase – starting the swallow, squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway (aspiration) or to prevent choking

  • Esophageal phase – relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the feeding tube in the throat (esophagus) and squeezing food through the esophagus into the stomach

What are the signs and symptoms of feeding and swallowing disorders?

Children with feeding and swallowing problems have a wide variety of symptoms. Not all signs and symptoms are present in every child.

The following are signs and symptoms of feeding and swallowing problems in very young children:

  • arching or stiffening of the body during feeding

  • irritability or lack of alertness during feeding

  • refusing food or liquid

  • failure to accept different textures of food (e.g., only pureed foods or crunchy cereals)

  • long feeding times (e.g., more than 30 minutes)

  • difficulty chewing

  • difficulty breast feeding

  • coughing or gagging during meals

  • excessive drooling or food/liquid coming out of the mouth or nose

  • difficulty coordinating breathing with eating and drinking

  • increased stuffiness during meals

  • gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice quality

  • frequent spitting up or vomiting

  • recurring pneumonia or respiratory infections

  • less than normal weight gain or growth

What treatments and therapy options are available?

Treatment varies greatly depending on the cause and symptoms of the swallowing problem.

Based on the results of the feeding and swallowing evaluation, the SLP or feeding team may recommend any of the following:

  • medical intervention (e.g., medicine for reflux)

  • direct feeding therapy designed to meet individual needs

  • nutritional changes (e.g., different foods, adding calories to food)

  • increasing acceptance of new foods or textures

  • food temperature and texture changes

  • postural or positioning changes (e.g., different seating)

  • behavior management techniques

  • referral to other professionals, such as a psychologist or dentist

If feeding therapy with an SLP is recommended, the focus on intervention may include the following:

  • making the muscles of the mouth stronger

  • increasing tongue movement

  • improving chewing

  • increasing acceptance of different foods and liquids

  • improving sucking and/or drinking ability

  • coordinating the suck-swallow-breath pattern (for infants)

  • altering food textures and liquid thickness to ensure safe swallowing

HiMama Subscriber

We we accept the following insurances: BCBS/Anthem PPO and HMO, Aetna, UHC, UMR, Optus, AllSavers, Humana, Meridian, ChampVA, and Boon Chapman. We accept Tricare out of network through 12/31/2023. Medicaid Provider through Aetna Better Health and Parkland.