During my time as a speech pathologist, I’ve often heard parents say in distress, “I never thought feeding my child would be so difficult.” If you have felt this way, don’t worry you’re normal. This is very common.
If your child is struggling with texture sensitivities, reflux, or something else, eating can be an absolute chore that plagues the family every day for every meal. Also, toddlers that are problem eaters can suffer from lack of full nutrition. Don’t despair; these feeding issues can be addressed through therapy.
Below, I have separated feeding therapy into four main areas complete with a few suggested treatment techniques. The following overview is a broad look at the areas that my feeding therapy would address, but is not a comprehensive treatment plan.
1. FAMILY DYNAMICS: This component focuses on training the family to have healthy and positive mealtime interactions and routines.
2. ORAL MOTOR: This component addresses the numerous hands-on techniques and tools that help increase awareness, strength and mobility for the child’s oral musculature.
3. SENSORY: This component focuses on texture sensitivities and food aversions.
4. BEHAVIOR: This component focuses on issues surrounding avoidance techniques that many children engage in to circumvent mealtime.
If you have any concerns about your toddler’s eating or feeding issues, please contact me for a free, no-obligation consultation or information packet. You can do this by calling me at 312-399-0370 or clicking on the button on the upper right part of this page. I will be happy to answers any question you have and point you toward beneficial feeding therapy resources for your toddler.
Your Partner in Toddler Eating and Feeding issues in Chicago,
Karen George
Karen George is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with extensive experience with feeding issues and disorders. She serves Chicago’s north side conducting in-home Speech and Feeding Therapy in neighborhoods such as Downtown (the Loop), West Loop, River North, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Uptown, Bucktown, Roscoe Village, and Wicker Park. Karen’s Feeding practice will begin serving Chicago’s North Shore and Western Suburbs starting in September 2010. Karen started the website Chicago Feeding Therapy in 2010.