FEEDING & SWALLOWING PROGRAM
Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Evaluation
During a clinical feeding evaluation, the feeding therapist will generally observe your child eating and drinking to learn about their feeding and swallowing skills. The feeding therapist may ask questions about your child’s feeding, medical, and developmental history, any current challenges or difficulties related to feeding and feeding behaviors, your child’s feeding skills, and your child’s response to new strategies, techniques, and/or feeding equipment.
The following skills may be observed during a clinical feeding evaluation:
- Breastfeeding and/or bottle feeding
- Cup drinking
- Spoon-feeding
- Chewing development
- Solid food texture progression
- Swallowing safety
The following areas may also be assessed during a clinical feeding evaluation:
- Oral mechanism examination
- Oral reflexes
- Oral motor skills for feeding
- Sensory-based feeding responses
- Behaviorally-based feeding responses
Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Therapy
- Oral Motor skill for sucking – Chewing – Spoon Feeding – Cup Drinking, Etc.
- Assist with weaning from formula/tube feeds to a solid diet.
- Decrease oral aversion / gagging during feedings.
- Reduce mealtime stress
- Expand the child’s range of foods in the diet.
