Feeding/Swallowing Disorders

Feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing disorders can affect children from birth onwards. There are two distinct areas; children who have a physical difficulty swallowing (known as dysphagia), and children who have a sensory difficulty with food or drink (sensory feeding issues). Children with dysphagia show signs of difficulty such as chest infections, coughing when drinking, or choking when eating. Children with sensory feeding issues tend to show difficulties with textures, such as lumpy food or wet food, or may have a very restricted list of food items that they will eat. Our Speech and Language Therapists will ask you a number of questions to determine what kind of difficulties you child has, and will direct their assessment and therapy accordingly. Please note that children with dysphagia may need to be seen by a medical team in a hospital setting rather than in our clinic.