How Can Feeding Therapy Help?
Feeding therapy can provide numerous benefits, including:
- Improved Nutrition and Growth: Ensuring children receive the necessary vitamins and nutrients for healthy development and consistent weight gain. This is achieved through helping promote a balanced diet with a variety of foods from all essential food groups (proteins, starches, and fruits and vegetables).
- Safe Swallowing: Reducing the risk of choking and aspiration, which can lead to respiratory issues. This is achieved through helping caregivers become knowledgeable about ways to prepare foods to make them more manageable while also working with the child to help them more easily manage different foods.
- Better oral-motor/chewing skills: Through specialized exercises and techniques, children learn to improve their chewing, swallowing, and overall control of their mouth muscles. This therapy helps develop strength, coordination, and sensory processing, making eating a safer and more enjoyable experience.
- Increased Food Variety: Expanding the types and textures of foods a child is willing and able to eat, contributing to a balanced diet.
- Enhanced Mealtime Experience: Making mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable for both the child and their family.
- Independence: Giving children the ability to eat and drink independently across environments, increasing self-esteem and confidence.