During feeding therapy, therapists work with children to provide them with the skills they need to make mealtime more enjoyable and nutritious.
Some children may lack the skills needed to eat and/or drink due to developmental delays, illness, allergies, and a variety of other factors. Therapists work to increase each child’s oral strength and range of motion, teaching them how to control and coordinate chewing, sipping, sucking, and swallowing, while eating and drinking.
Caregivers play an important role in feeding therapy. Working as a team, the caregivers and therapist decide which foods to introduce or target during therapy.
Feeding therapy can be delivered in clinic or via telehealth.