Pediatric Feeding Therapy
West Valley Speech Therapy provides skilled feeding therapy for infants and children. Feeding difficulties can occur throughout the life span, and we want to support and guide development as early as we can in that process. Feeding therapy can help guide oral motor, oral sensory, and feeding behavioral development from an early age.
We take a multi-faceted approach to feeding therapy: we address oral motor, oral sensory, airway, and behavioral aspects of the feeding process.
Feeding therapy services take place in our clinic or your home, where our team will provide highly effective therapy sessions, in combination with extensive parent coaching for successful carry-over and generalization of skills at home.
Head over to our Feeding Tips Webpage for additional checklists and resources!
How to Know if Your Child Needs an Evaluation
Your child may benefit from a feeding evaluation if any of the following issues apply:
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Difficulty with breastfeeding
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Difficulty with a deep latch or staying latched
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Difficulty with bottle feeding
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Difficulty transitioning from breast to bottle
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Bottle aversions
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Milk spilling from mouth during feeding
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Coughing, choking, or gagging during or after feeding
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Tongue tie: before and after tongue tie release procedures
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Difficulty transitioning to solid foods
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Picky eating
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Limited food repertoire
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Difficulty with drinking from an open cup or straw
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Difficulty with participating in mealtime
Our Feeding Evaluation Process
A feeding evaluation is a dynamic, multi-faceted process that looks at the whole child and family dynamic in addition to the child's oral sensory and oral motor systems. Our process includes:
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A parent interview and intake form
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Observations of eating during a mealtime
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Assessment of child's oral sensory and oral motor skills
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Observation and evaluation of mealtime behaviors
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Education about developmental milestones
Following the evaluation, we will work with your family to create a therapy plan that meets the child's needs and the family's functional goals. We provide assessments for infants starting at birth through the early childhood years.
What We Treat
Oral Motor • Oral Sensory • Oral Patterns
Picky eating • Difficulty with solids • Bottle aversions
Infant feeding difficulties • Tethered Oral Tissues (Lip, cheek, tongue tie): before, during, and after the release procedures
Our Approach to
Feeding Therapy
West Valley's approach to feeding therapy is 3-pronged:
We support the oral sensory system
We support the oral motor system
We support the development of feeding skills and behaviors during mealtimes
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Children learn best when they are safe, supported, and motivated to try new, hard things. We take the time to build rapport with our clients by getting to know their interests and incorporating play into our sessions. Plus, we get parents involved throughout the therapy process to make sure that we are all working toward a common goal.
How We Can Help Your Child Thrive with their Feeding Skills
Therapy sessions at West Valley Speech Therapy are personalized, engaging, and highly effective. Our goal is provide supports which will help you and your child enjoy their feeding experiences, allowing them to grow and thrive in their early years.
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We use evidenced-based practices in infant and early childhood feeding disorders. We work directly with the child and the family, meeting them where they are at and helping build success along the way.
Oral Sensory & Oral Motor
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Low or increased oral muscle tone
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Low or increased oral sensory awareness
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Immature oral patterns
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Difficulty with lip closure or lip strength
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Difficulty with tongue movement and tongue strength
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Difficulty with coordinating the suck-swallow-breathe sequence
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Swallowing difficulties
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Extended pacifier use
Feeding Skills
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Difficulty with accepting a bottle
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Difficulty with efficiently feeding at the bottle
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Excessive spitting up
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Colic behaviors
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History of reflux
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Difficulty with food exploration
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Difficulty with finger foods
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Poor use of utensils
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Difficulty with cup drinking
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Difficulty with straws
Mealtime Behaviors
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Food refusals
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Tantrums at the table
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Difficulty staying at the table during meals
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Power struggles over food
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Difficulties transitioning from bottle
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Frustration from parents at mealtime
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Difficulty with establishing healthy expectations for mealtime and foods