Feeding issues are serious. They can threaten the health of your child by depriving them of the nutrients they need to grow and develop. In some cases, they could aspirate on food or water. If your child has had any difficulties with eating, your doctor may have suggested feeding therapy.
What leads a doctor to make that recommendation? Here are ten signs that you should invest in feeding therapy.
1. Your child is an extremely picky eater, to the extent that you worry about their intake.
2. Your child has difficulty transitioning from bottle feeding to solid food.
3. Your child has a cleft palate.
4. Your child has difficulty breathing while eating and drinking.
5. Your child has low weight gain or slow growth.
6. Your child drools excessively.
7. Your child has excessive amounts of food or liquid coming out of their mouth or nose.
8. Your child has frequent respiratory infections.
9. Your child takes an excessive amount of time to eat.
10. Your child has difficulty chewing.
Feeding therapy is typically treated by an occupational therapist or speech and language pathologist, depending on the underlying issues causing the feeding difficulties. The therapist will identify structural or physiological issues that may be causing your child's feeding issue. After this, the therapist will teach you and your child how to work through these issues. A feeding therapist teaches your child eating techniques. They also work with you to educate you on appropriate ways to help improve your child's eating at home.
If your child is exhibiting any of the signs listed above or if for any reason you suspect a structural or physiological reason for your child's eating struggles, talk to your doctor about starting feeding therapy as soon as possible at All Care. If you have any questions, please let us know! We'd love help!