Feeding and Swallowing
 Why do children need feeding and swallowing therapy?
Some children may exhibit difficulty feeding and /or swallowing. Signs and symptoms that may indicate a need for therapy include:
- Coughing and gagging during feeding
- Difficulty coordinating breathing with drinking or eating
- Hoarse or breathy voice quality
- Excessive drooling
- Loss of food/liquid from the mouth
- Prolonged meal time (greater than 30 minutes)
- Avoidance of food textures
- Problems chewing
- Frequent pneumonia or respiratory infections
- Frequent spiting up
- Arching or stiffening body during feeding
- Failure to gain weight
- Difficulty transitioning from bottle to food
- Transition from tube-feeding to oral feeds
 What does feeding and swallowing therapy involve?
Treatment may include:
- Oral motor strengthening and range of motion
- Chewing and biting skill development
- Cup drinking
- Oral motor stimulation and desensitization
- Oral sensory skills
- Positioning changes
- Alteration of mealtime schedule
- Utensil and/or bottle modifications
- Assessing the safety of swallow
 Is aspiration a common reason for needing therapy? Is this diagnosed by the videofluoroscopic swallow study?
A video fluoroscopic swallow is completed to see:
- How the tongue is used to get food to the back of the throat
- How the food is swallowed
- If the food goes into the lungs instead of the stomach (Aspiration)
- If different consistencies are handled better than others
- If different positioning helps for feeding
To complete a successful study, the child should be able to accept 3 tsps. of liquid and another 5-7 bites of a semi-solid food.
If the child is found to be aspirating, follow up therapy is recommended to work with the child and family to develop a feeding/swallowing program based on the child's unique needs.
Meet our Feeding & Swallowing Team:
Children's Hospital:
Michelle Westengaard, OTR/L, Lead OT
Tina Goo, OTR/L
Kerrie Ivey, OTR/L
Mary Cash, MS,CCC-SLP
Ashley Gluszek, MS, CCC-SLP
West Village Pointe:
Heather Young, OTR/L
Theresa Larson, MS, CCC-SLP
Mindy Otte, MS, CCC-SLP
Amanda Coffey, OTR/L
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