What is a pediatric feeding disorder?
A pediatric feeding disorder is impaired oral intake. This could be due to a medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction. It can be related to delays in oral motor skills or issues such as reflux, cleft repair, feeding aversions, sensory concerns, or picky eating among other things. Some children do not have an internal drive to eat, and they do not understand hunger. Frequently, several factors are involved with feeding disorders.
Feeding is one of the most complex things we do as human beings. It takes 26 muscles, six cranial nerves, and all our senses’ systems for just one swallow. That’s a lot of things that need to work together, which is probably why feeding disorders are common in kids. About one in four children experiences a feeding disorder.
Who may benefit from Feeding Therapy?
Ranken Jordan’s Feeding Therapy Team offers treatment for children of all ages. These children may have:
- Feeding difficulties due to prematurity and medical complexities
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cleft palate/craniofacial abnormalities
- Encoporesis (When a child who is toilet trained passes stool into his or her underwear. It can be caused by chronic constipation due to dietary issues.)
Treatment expertise
There is an overlap of sensory, oral motor skills and behavior in feeding. Through the Ranken Jordan Feeding Clinic, occupational and speech therapists bring their expertise to assess and address all the issues involved in feeding disorders. They develop a treatment plan that is individualized to each child’s needs based on their medical and developmental history. The team may recommend consultation with other members of the clinical team including the gastroenterologist, psychologist, and dietician.
As a parent, you’re an integral part of the team as well to help address or resolve feeding issues so your child can thrive.
Questions?
We’re here to help. Give us a call at (314)872-6440 to contact outpatient therapy.