What Is Feeding Therapy?

It's more than just "training a youngster to eat" when it comes to feeding therapy. Therapists collaborate closely with patients and their families to identify the basis of a child's issues and build highly customized therapies to make the entire eating experience smoother and more joyful.

When Is It Appropriate To Refer A Child For Eating Therapy?

Mealtimes are a fantastic time for bonding and experiencing new things. Unfortunately, it may be a stressful and challenging period for some youngsters. If any of the behaviors listed below are interfering with a child's ability to eat safely, achieve nutritional needs, or enjoy the mealtime experience, pediatric feeding therapy may be beneficial.

• Your child finds food difficult to chew, and it is usually swallowed whole.
• Your child refuses to eat specific textures of food or finds it difficult to shift from one texture to another
• Certain food textures, temperatures, and/or flavors make him gag, avoid them, or make him extremely sensitive to them.
• Struggles with controlling and coordinating food movement in the mouth, chewing and swallowing.
• Feeding makes your child fussy or irritated.
• During or after feedings, the youngster appears to be congested.
• Coughs a lot while eating.
• When eating, he gags and chokes.
• Vomits frequently while or shortly after eating or drinking.
• Refuses to try new foods or only does so sometimes.
• Food is pushed away.
• Negative mealtime behaviors (baby cries, arches, pulls away from feeding; child refuses to eat, tantrums at mealtimes, or "shuts down" and does not participate in mealtime)
• During bottle or nursing, the infant shows indicators of difficulties coordinating the suck/swallow/breath rhythm.

Feeding therapy involves therapists working with children to teach them the skills they need to make mealtimes more fun and nutritious. Each child's skills are defined by the patient's demands and may differ from those listed below. Oral skills, food orientation, and improving the entire eating experience are the most prevalent abilities taught.

If your child has feeding disorders, you should look for a reliable pediatric clinic that offers feeding therapy in Dubai. The feeding therapists will assess the condition of your children and design the right therapy plan to address specific issues.