Does your child have trouble with feeding and/or swallowing? Picky eating? Not eating enough? Eating too much? Transitioning from tube feeding? At Speech Tactics our team of expert feeding therapists is committed to helping children overcome feeding and swallowing challenges, ensuring they receive the nourishment they need for healthy growth and development. Our feeding and swallowing therapy program is designed for children from birth to 21 years. Feeding and swallowing problems can start as soon as a baby is born and has trouble latching or coordinating sucking which can result in nutritional compromise. Problems with feeding and swallowing could lead to issues with malnutrition, pulmonary problems, and overall failure to thrive. Older children may have trouble with using their mouth muscles to chew food properly. Some children also have a very limited food repertoire, which means the child eats the same foods over and over again. For children with more complex feeding issues, we may also refer to our inhouse Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Feeding Clinic to provide holistic, integrative interventions with 2 or more specialized feeding professionals. Regardless of the concern, we are here to walk hand and hand with parents to support feeding and swallowing development from birth!
Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Services
Our specialized feeding & swallowing program addresses the following areas in therapy:
Infants who struggle during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, experience choking, gagging, or display discomfort during feeds may be facing feeding issues. It is very important to address these issues as soon as possible to avoid subsequent issues with growth and development.
We understand the unique challenges premature infants face when it comes to feeding and swallowing. Our therapists are equipped to address these issues with care and expertise. Some of the issues we see with prematurity are decreased endurance for sucking, low muscle tone, poor coordination for breathing, sucking, and swallowing, reflux, and for more severe cases the infant may have a high risk for aspiration- when liquid or food enter the airway resulting in coughing/choking.
If your child is struggling to gain weight or experiencing growth concerns, our therapists can develop a personalized plan to address these issues. this could be a sign that your child is having some discomfort with feeding and swallowing resulting in refusal of liquids/solids, or low intake. When a child has insufficient caloric intake, this could lead to malnutrition and other serious health concerns related to physical and cognitive development.
Frequent coughing or choking during meals is a common sign of swallowing problems in children. If left untreated, this could potentially lead to recurring pulmonary problems.
Frequent gastrointestinal problems, such as reflux or vomiting, can be connected to feeding and swallowing issues.
Feeding and swallowing interventions focused on helping children transition away from G-tube feeding and onto oral feeding to enhance their quality of life.
Failure to thrive, poor weight gain, or difficulties maintaining a healthy growth curve may result from feeding difficulties.
Transitioning from infancy to toddlerhood can bring about new challenges in feeding. We offer expert guidance and support for this important stage of growth.
Extreme pickiness or refusal to try new foods can be indicative of aversions to certain textures or flavors.
Challenges when transitioning from purees to solid foods may suggest a swallowing issue.
Our therapists have experience working with children on the autism spectrum, ensuring that their unique needs are met during feeding therapy.
Speech Tactics is a premier interdisciplinary pediatric therapy organization with a people-first and purpose-driven mission to deliver holistic, evidence-based, and quality therapy services for children and families in North Carolina.