Many times, children have difficulties chewing or swallowing food. There could be plenty of reasons behind it. Children may develop feeding disorders due to various reasons including medical conditions such as food allergies), reinforcement of inappropriate behavior, or anatomical or structural abnormalities. In most cases, children develop more than one reason for feeding difficulties. Pediatric feeding therapy can come in handy in this situation.
What Does Feeding Therapy Teach?
During feeding therapy, therapists work with children as well as their parents or caregivers. They teach different skills to make mealtime more enjoyable and nutritious. The most common skills taught in pediatric feeding therapy include:
Oral Skills - Some children do not have the skills that are required to eat or drink because of developmental delays, serious illness, sensory issues or allergies, and other factors. In this case, therapists closely work with children to guide them on how to control and coordinate chewing, sucking, sipping, and swallowing while eating and drinking. The objective is to improve oral strength and range of motion.
Food Orientation - Some children may need additional assistance for increasing the amount and type of foods they eat. Feeding therapists work with children and their families to increase the amount as well as the types of foods the child is willing to eat. Children with sensory aversion have had limited exposure to a variety of foods. The goal of a feeding therapist is to teach them how to reduce their sensitivities to foods and their textures.
Improve The Overall Eating Experience - Whether a child has illness or allergies, a sensory aversion to food, or reduced oral skills, the child may develop negative feelings toward eating and mealtime in the process. Feeding therapists always devise strategic plans to help the child intake different types of food in a more happy way.
If your child has any difficulty with feeding or swallowing, take him to a renowned pediatric center for feeding therapy in Dubai.
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