What is Feeding Therapy?

At Spark Home Health feeding and swallowing skills are addressed and supported by speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and lactation consultants. Clinicians who provide feeding therapy collaborate with other members of the child’s care team to identify barriers to successful eating and develop individual plans to improve a child’s participation in meals.

As a Parent or Guardian What Can I Expect From Therapy Services?

As pediatric therapists, our relationship with your child comes first. We take time to get to know your child, family, and environment. Our therapists turn work into play using the items and activities your child loves and then work together to find ways your child can continue to learn and grow throughout the week. We believe that you are your child’s best teacher and work to support you in finding ways to help your child meet their goals.

At Spark Home Health, we feel privileged to work with our patients in their homes and communities. This familiar environment ensures a high level of engagement and collaboration resulting in maximum functional growth and development.

Would Feeding Therapy Be Appropriate for My Child?

Children who have feeding difficulties may have an underlying medical condition or may show signs of feeding disorders. Some of the diagnoses we see in children with feeding disorders include:

  • Heart, Lung, or Gastro-Esophageal Disease

  • Prematurity, Fetal-Alcohol Syndrome, Fetal Drug Exposure, Low Birth Weight

  • Musculoskeletal or Structural Disorders and Abnormalities

  • Genetic Disorders - Down Syndrome, Pierre Robin Sequence, Prader-Willi, Rett Syndrome

  • Neurological Disorders - Cerebral Palsy, Encephalopathy, Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Disordered Tone - Hypertonia, Hypotonia

  • Sensory Processing Disorders

  • Autism

  • Impacts of Abuse, Neglect, or Trauma

How Can a Feeding Specialist Help My Child?

Our feeding specialists can help your child with:

  • Picky eating/food refusal

  • Participating in mealtime

  • Eating a variety of foods, textures, and complexity

  • Overstuffing or holding food in mouth

  • Difficulty chewing and swallowing

  • Gagging/choking/vomiting

  • Drooling (not related to teething)

  • Loss of food or liquid from the mouth while eating

  • Failure to thrive

  • Breast and/or bottle feeding