Pediatric Feeding Therapy

Way to Grow provides pediatric feeding therapy services from our licensed occupational and speech therapists for children with various feeding challenges. Each child evaluated will be assessed for sensory sensitivities, oral motor skills (such as sucking, biting, chewing, and swallowing), mealtime participation, and self-feeding skills. Each family receives a comprehensive report with a plan of care to target specific feeding concerns.

Areas of Concern

• Limited diet (consistently eating less than 20 foods)
• Preference for specific textures, flavors, or brands of foods
• Hesitation or avoidance of trying new foods
• Becoming upset at the sight or smell of new foods
• Difficulty touching wet, sticky, and/or mixed textures
• Oral sensitivities or lack of oral awareness
• Frequent gagging/ choking episodes
• Difficulty with biting, chewing, and/or swallowing foods
• Delayed milestone in self-feeding skills (utensil use, transitioning from bottle to cup, picking up food to feed self)
• Oral ties (tongue, lips, cheeks)
• Difficulty transitioning to solid foods

Treatment Approaches

• SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach principles
• Hierarchy Continuum strategies
• Get Permission approach
• Systematic desensitization to novel and/or non-preferred foods and textures
• Oral motor exercises to improve strength and mobility of jaw, tongue, lips, and cheeks
• Help distinguish between picky eaters and problem feeders
• Positive reinforcement with mealtime participation and self-feeding skills

Kudos

Here's what families are saying about Way to Grow

"Heather is a caring and very talented occupational therapist. While working with Heather, my daughter felt like she was going to a play date every week instead of a therapy session, and made significant improvements during her sessions. Heather has great communication with parents and helps explain what a parent can do at home to enforce what was learned in therapy. I highly recommend Heather to anyone in need of a occupational therapist. We are so grateful to have found her!"

-Lyndsey M.