Feeding Therapy
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PediaPlex
Autism Spectrum Disorder & ABA Therapy located in Southlake, TX, Alliance, Fort Worth, TX & Frisco, TX
If you’re worried that your child isn’t getting the nutrients needed to maximize their growth and development, turn to PediaPlex, with locations in Southlake, Alliance, Fort Worth, and Frisco, Texas. Autism spectrum disorder specialist Sonia Kirkpatrick, MBA, and her exceptional team offer feeding therapy to help your child eat a variety of nutritious foods. Call the PediaPlex office to learn more.
Feeding Therapy Q & A
What is feeding therapy?
Feeding therapy at PediaPlex uses innovative, highly effective techniques to help children who are picky eaters consume a wider array of nutritious options. Doing so reduces the risk of nutritional deficiencies and enhances their growth and development.
What are common symptoms of feeding disorders in children?
Common signs and symptoms of pediatric feeding disorders in children include:
- Low body weight
- Delayed growth and development
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Refusal to try new foods
- Gagging or vomiting when eating
- Avoiding certain food textures
- Temper tantrums during mealtime
Though any child can develop a feeding disorder, risk factors include food allergies, palate defects, digestive problems, and autism spectrum disorder, as well as gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) and delayed exposure to certain foods.
About 80% of people with developmental disabilities have some type of feeding disorder.
Is feeding therapy right for my child?
PediaPlex providers offer feeding therapy evaluations to determine the type and severity of feeding disorder your child may have. They observe your child when they eat or use tests that detect underlying problems, such as sensory perception issues, problems with the mouth and swallowing, or combinations of such complications.
The four main feeding disorder categories children can fall into include:
- Total food refusal
- Food selectivity
- Texture selectivity
- Deficits in self-feeding skills
After your child’s evaluation, a pediatric feeding therapist consults with their primary physician, gastrointestinal physician, nutritionist, or occupational therapist, if needed.
They give you a report containing findings and appropriate feeding therapy services, before developing a treatment plan based on your child’s individual needs.
What should I expect during feeding therapy?
During feeding therapy, children and parents work with a specialist to improve feeding techniques, routines at home, meal times, and meal plans. Parents could spend at least 10-15 minutes per day practicing feeding therapy at home.
Over time, you can expect your child to:
- Improve the variety of solid foods and liquids accepted
- Increase the volume of solid foods and/or liquids consumed
- Accept a wide array of textured foods
- Improve self-feeding skills
- Decrease mealtime duration
- Reduce disruptive mealtime behaviors
With the right support and feeding therapy at PediaPlex specialists, mealtime for you and your family can become enjoyable, beneficial, and include a wide array of healthy foods that meet your child’s nutritious needs. This, in turn, enhances their growth and development.
To learn more about feeding therapy at PediaPlex, call the office.
