Feeding encompasses all aspects of eating or drinking, including gathering and preparing food or liquids, sucking, chewing, and swallowing.

Swallowing is a complex process in which saliva, liquids, and foods are transported from the mouth into the stomach while protecting the airway. 

Signs and Symptoms:

• Pocketing food (holding food in the mouth)
• Excessive drooling or liquid escaping from the mouth or nose 
• Hoarse, gurgle, or breathy voice during or after meals 
• Coughing or gagging during meals 
• Refusal to eat or drink
• Tongue-thrust swallowing pattern 
• Preference for certain textures (e.g., only eating soft foods) 

At One Speech Therapy, our licensed speech-language pathologists focus on ensuring safety while supporting your child’s nutritional and hydration needs. Our therapy services may include postural and positioning techniques, adaptive equipment recommendations, sensory stimulation techniques, behavioral interventions, and oral motor exercises to strengthen the muscles involved in feeding and swallowing. For concerns related to infant feeding, such as difficulty with latching or painful breastfeeding, we refer families to specialized professionals like IBCLCs and breastfeeding specialists for additional support. Our therapists also provide parent education on creating a safe feeding environment and may refer your child to a specialized setting (e.g., hospital) for further assessments, such as a modified barium swallow study, when necessary. Our goal is to promote safe, effective feeding and swallowing habits while enhancing your child’s overall well-being.