Description
Children with OM/feeding and/or swallowing problems are experiencing feeding aversions, oral motor delay, difficulty swallowing, behavioral problems related to feeding, food refusal, poor weight gain, difficulty with texture transition (picky eaters), or G-tube to oral feeding transition.
Symptoms
Examples of presenting problems that may be associated with feeding problems include:
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Coughing, choking, or gagging during a meal
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Poor weight gain
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Vomiting
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Total or partial food refusal
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Mouth weakness
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Difficulty chewing or swallowing
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Resistance to food textures
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Behavior concerns at mealtime
What you can expect from therapy
Feeding therapy will focus on addressing your child’s specific OM/Feeding needs. Intervention may include oral-motor exercises, decreasing oral sensitivity, introducing your child to new foods or textures, changing or modifying food consistencies, addressing behavioral issues during mealtime, and/or transitioning from G/J-tube feeding to oral feedings.
Parent involvement is extremely important and strongly encouraged and recommended to help carryover skills for greater success.